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The Karnataka Pharmacy College Management Association (KPCMA) has expressed concern over the recent 100% affiliation fee hike for pharmacy colleges, highlighting that this steep increase has placed students in a severe financial crisis.
The affiliation fee increase in B Pharm is Rs. 1,87,000. This was Rs. 1,76,040 in 2025-26 and increased to Rs. 3,63,040 in 2026-27. For Pharma D, it is a Rs. 2,37,000 increase where it was Rs. 1,26,040 in 2025-26 and now fixed at Rs. 3,63,040. M Pharm affiliation fee has risen by Rs. 47,010. It was Rs. 38,540 and increased to Rs. 85,550 in 2026-27.
In a letter to the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), the association pointed out that the steep increase, coupled with a low admission rate for the academic session 2025-26, has placed many institutions in a precarious position. For instance, the affiliation fee structure issued by RGUHS for change of college address is Rs. 5 lakh, change of college name is Rs. 3 lakh, consent of affiliation is Rs. 1.25 lakh and course identification fee is Rs. 40.
We believe that such a drastic rise in fees could significantly impact students' ability to afford education and continue their studies, especially those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. They have called for immediate attention to this issue, urging both the government and educational institutions to reconsider the fee structure to ensure that quality education remains accessible to all students without financial strain, said Shiva Kumar, joint secretary, KPCMA.
In this regard, it has highlighted to the University that due to the current low admission rate for the academic year 2025-26, most pharmacy colleges are facing significant challenges in sustaining institutional operations.
Most colleges are struggling, making it difficult to maintain the quality of education. This has led KPCMA to ask RGUHS to intervene and address the issue to ensure the long-term viability of pharmacy education in the state, he added.
RGUHS in its communication on December 10 2025 had called for online applications for continuation of affiliation for the academic year 2026-27 and additional courses besides increase in intake in pharmacy for the academic year 2027-28. The dates to submit these are from December 10-31, 2025.
In view of the prevailing situation, we call upon the RGUHS to revert to the previous year’s affiliation fee structure until a detailed review is undertaken. The revised fees may be reconsidered after due consultation and representation from all the stakeholders affiliated with the pharmacy education, said Kumar adding that this will provide timely relief to the pharmacy institutions in Karnataka.
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