2110 PG medicos not receiving stipend: NMC issues stern warning to Private medical colleges

New Delhi: The Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) has warned private medical colleges to pay stipends to postgraduate medical students in compliance with Regulation 13 of the Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000. 

Further, the Apex medical education regulatory body has also issued a warning to the private medical colleges stating that it will take action against such institutes for non-compliance with the provisions of the PGMER 2000 Regulations, if any complaint is received in future.

This comes after the online survey conducted by NMC, where 10,178 responses were received from PG medical students, revealed that altogether 2110 PG students of various private medical colleges across the country were not receiving any stipend.

While 4288 students stated that they were not being paid equal stipend with the students of government medical colleges in the respective states, 1228 students submitted that the stipend paid to them by colleges/institutes is taken back by the management.

Issuing an advisory in this regard, the PGMEB of NMC mentioned, "An online survey was conducted through Google Form on the issue of stipend being paid to Under Graduate Interns and Post Graduate Medical Students in the self-financed/Private Medical College. A total of 10,178 responses were received from the PG Students. Out of this 7901 responses were from PG students of Private Medical Colleges and considered for analysis. Balance responses were either from students of Government Medical College or DNB hospitals and some duplicate responses."

Also Read: NMC to conduct survey on medical college stipends, here is how MBBS, PG medicos can participate

The Commission analysed 7901 responses received from PG students from 213 Colleges of 19 States and 02 UTs and noted the following:

(a) A total of 2110 PG students of various Private Medical Colleges across the country gave feedback that they are not receiving stipend.

(b) 4288 students have responded that stipend being paid is not equal to the stipend being paid in the Government Medical Colleges in that States.

(c) 1228 students who are getting stipend informed that stipend given by colleges/institutes is taken back by management.

In the advisory, the Commission pointed out that as per the Regulation 13 of Post Graduate Medical Education Regulation, 2000, as amended from time to time stipulates- "The Post Graduate students of the institutions which are located in various States/Union Territories shall be paid remuneration at par with the remuneration being paid to the Post Graduate students of State Government Medical Institutions/ Central Government Medical Institutions, in the State/Union Territory in which the institution is located."

Issuing warning to the medical colleges for non-compliance with the regulations and not paying proper stipend to the medical colleges, NMC further mentioned in the advisory, "All the Self-financed/Private Medical Colleges are directed to implement the above mentioned Regulation 13 of the PGMER, 2000. All the Self-Financed/ Private Medical Colleges are warned that NMC will take strict action for non-compliance of the provisions of the Regulations of PGMER, 2000 if any complaint is received in future."

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that taking note of the issue of stipend disparity faced by the medical students belonging to the self-financing medical colleges, NMC had decided to conduct a survey regarding the amount of stipend paid to the intern and resident doctors belonging to the private medical colleges across the country. NMC took this decision to comply with the directions issued by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in this regard.

NHRC took cognisance of the matter after a student of Malabar Medical College, Kozhikode filed a complaint and alleged that the House Surgeons are paid inadequate stipend, in violation of Government order. It was claimed in the complaint that the house surgeons are paid Rs 8500 as stipend per month and out of this Rs 2500 is deducted towards mess charges.

In this regard, the complainant student had referred to a circular issued by the Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS), as per which the monthly stipend paid to doctors in private medical colleges should be equal to the stipend paid in Government Medical Colleges.

While considering the matter, NHRC had issued directions to NMC on March 7, 2023, to conduct a survey in private medical colleges across the country to ensure how much stipend the students were receiving.

Complying with the directions issued by NHRC, NMC created a Google form asked all the UG students enrolled in MBBS internship to fill it up. Apart from the UG MBBS Interns, the PG medical students have also been requested to fill up the form by May 7, 2023.

Recently, filing a Right to Information (RTI) application, Kannur-based Health Activist Dr. Babu KV sought information regarding the directions issued by the NHRC, based on which NMC issued the public notice regarding the survey on stipends.

In response to the RTI, NMC had earlier informed that around 28,800 MBBS interns and Postgraduate students in self-financed medical colleges participated in the online survey conducted by the NMC and submitted their responses regarding the amount of stipend being paid to them.

To view the NMC advisory, click on the link below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/nmc-pg-medical-students-stipend-217418.pdf

Also Read: Poor Stipend in Private Medical Colleges: NMC receives around 29k responses from MBBS, PG medicos, reveals RTI