Following a strike by the MBBS interns in Madhya Pradesh, the State’s medical education department announced a hike in stipends for junior doctors serving in government medical colleges. The stipend increase has been hiked by just Rs 500, much to the dismay of the students who are highly dissatisfied and frustrated.

Background of the Protests

The protests erupted after the interns raised their grievances regarding long working hours and high stress levels, coupled with less remuneration. Interns in Madhya Pradesh at present get Rs 400 per day, which comes to about Rs 12,000 per month. This amount is meager compared to other states where stipends are from Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000. The interns felt that the financial constraint extended even to their general daily life, as it was always tussling to meet ends on rent, food, study materials, and so on. In a letter to the government, they said that pressure had affected their mental health, hence affecting the quality of health care services they provided.

The Government Reacts

Due to the demand made by the interns, the Madhya Pradesh government issued a notification for the increase in stipend with effect from April 1, 2024. However, the modest hike has received a skeptical reception. A doctor-cum-activist, Dr. Dhruv Chauhan, posted a sarcastic comment on social media about the “huge Rs 500 increase” and what one could realistically do with that amount. His comments thus reflected a sentiment that was brewing in the internship regarding how their work and commitment were not well-appreciated or compensated.

Comparison with Other States

The stipend case of Madhya Pradesh thus brings to the fore increasing disparity in stipend amounts in India. Assam, West Bengal, Karnataka, and Meghalaya have woken up already to see that their interns get a fair stipend; the stipend, which the Madhya Pradesh interns feel, is of paramount importance in enhancing health services. A substantial stipend hike will bring in relief for them financially and boost performance, they say.

Conclusion

While the interns continued to raise their grievances against the government’s response, this makes the question of fair remuneration to medical interns in Madhya Pradesh quite a burning issue. The meager hike in stipend has given way to debates related to the price which hard work by medical professionals comes in a state where the cost of living is ever-increasing. The interns resolve to make a case for a stipend that shall reflect their contribution and the realities of demands in their roles within the Health System.