After failing to receive any positive response from their respective state governments, several doctors’ associations have taken social media route to galvanise public support for intern medical professionals who are receiving even less than the minimum wages of skilled workforce.
The issue is currently being raised by Interns of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, whose stipends are much less compared to other states.
Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA) demanded for uniform policy for intern doctors and also asked the concerned minister intervene into the matter.
“A Uniform Policy for stipend of Medical Interns. @drharshvardhan, @DrRPNishank to kindly address the concerns of young medicos of various states #One_Nation_One_Stipend,” the FORDA in a tweet demanded.
“One Nation, One Pay has been a long-pending demand of FORDA. Lack of uniformity in stipend of Interns as well as Resident Doctors has been highlighted by FORDA earlier on multiple occasions. Health is a state subject. However, Union Government should draft a Uniform Policy and set of guidelines for States to be followed in formulating stipends of Interns,” Team FORDA told Healthwire.
“It was informed to us that in multiple states like Madhya Pradesh , Rajasthan, Uttar pradesh etc interns are paid very low stipend as compared to central govt. Hospitals We request to @PMOIndia @drharshvardhan sir, to direct states to increase Stipend. #One_Nation_One_Stipend,” doctors said.
Echoing the same, Delhi Medical Council Governing Body Member Dr Pankaj Solanki extend his support and said, “Interns are important part of healthcare system. We stand by #One_Nation_One_Stipend.”
Mental Health Professional Jawahar Singh urged the Rajasthan government to raise the stipend amount of interns.
“Appeal from intern Doctors of #Rajasthan who are getting only 233₹/day, which is less than Minimum Wages of skilled workers. #Disrespectful They must be given decent &respectful stipend. #Rajasthan_इन्टर्नStipendबढाओ,
Last week, Intern doctors in Uttar Pradesh had also demanded to increase their stipend that they are currently receiving Rs 250 per day.
In a letter to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot , the United Resident and Doctors Association, representing the voice of the intern doctors, claimed that the stipend intern doctors in U.P. are receiving is the lowest among all the states.
The association has said it expects the authorities “to take this matter on a priority basis.”
“As we are all aware of the fact that that health professionals are always in the front lines to face any disastrous conditions and of them interns are the contact points for all sorts of emergencies,” said Neeraj Kumar Mishra, U.P. president of URDA.
“In this life threatening pandemic too we are always ready to serve for the betterment of society.” Mishra said, adding that they had received assurances from the previous government too but “nothing has changed yet.”
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had also extended her support to the interns’ demand.
“Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ji, this stipend is very low. In my understanding, in times of such a crisis it is your duty to increase the stipend of intern doctors,” Vadra said.
“MBBS Interns are not your vote bank, thats why this unfairness happening. We are demanding stipend increment and Gov is not responding. Its just 250rs/day even after doing 10-12 hours duty and risking life with corona patients,” Dr Nikita Panwar, a medical science student expressed her opinion in twitter.
“Medical Internship is the toughest phase of whole MBBS curriculum. We demand the decent & respected pay for each and every intern in the country, they really get peanuts for long standing duty hours they do. Our hearts beat as one here, kindly # & RT #One_Nation_One_Stipend,” one of medical professional Skin Doctor said.
“The country has become #independent, but when will #we get #freedom from the #injustice being done to the #intern_doctors? #A_233/day seriously @ashokgehlot51 @RaghusharmaINC @VasundharaBJP #One_Nation_One_Stipend #WeDemandstipendincrement, Dr Amarinder Singh Malhi, Assistant Professor, Department of cardiovascular Radiology at AIIMS Delhi.
Interns of Central University receives medical stipend of Rs 23,500 while state like Assam gives much more than central university. It stands at Rs 30,000. Odisha, Tripura, West Bengal and Gujarat give Rs 20,000, Rs 18,000, Rs 16,590 and 13,000 respectively.
While states like Punjab and Bihar give Rs 15,000 and Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh Rs 17,000.