Medical interns on strike,demand higher stipend

Nearly 750 interns from five government medical colleges went on an indefinite strike demanding hike in their stipend.

Nearly 750 interns from five government medical colleges went on an indefinite strike on Monday demanding hike in their stipend. The interns want their monthly stipend to increase from Rs 2,500 to Rs 13,000.

Two groups of medical interns will stage a hunger strike to for press their demands,said media representative Dr Mayur Ambekar of Association of State Medical Interns (ASMI). One group of 48 interns will stage a hunger strike for eight hours and the other group of 36 have volunteered to go on a hunger strike till their demands are met.

The Medical Council of India (MCI) has ruled that the stipend of interns should be 40 per cent of the stipend of junior resident doctors,which will come up to Rs 13,000. We have been asking for the hike for a long time but they have ignored it so far. Medical interns in under developed states are also better paid – in West Bengal they get Rs 14,000,in Delhi Rs 13,000 in Assam Rs 12,000,in UP Rs 7,500 ,in Karnataka RS 8,500,in Orissa Rs 8,600,and in Bihar Rs 7,000, Ambekar said.

Their other demand is to increase this stipend by 10 per cent annually. Also,we want to be marked present for all these days, Ambekar said.

However,doctors said the strike will not affect the services at these hospitals.

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