Jodhpur's medical college orders PG residents to shift hostels or pay Rs 150 per day extra, Doctors' body demands withdrawal, NMC intervention

Jodhpur: The administration of Dr Sampurnanand Medical College, Jodhpur, has reportedly directed postgraduate resident doctors of the 2024 batch staying in Family PG Hostel to either shift to the newly constructed located in the Umed Hospital campus or pay additional hostel fees to continue staying in the existing hostel. The move soon drew backlash.

In an order issued by Dr Bhati, Additional Principal of Dr SN Medical College, June 6, 2026, the administration stated that residents opting to remain in Family PG Hostel No. 7 will have to pay hostel fees, AC charges, and an additional “market rate” charge of Rs 150 per day for the entire three-year duration of the PG course.

The order further warned that failure to comply with the above instructions will result in disciplinary action against the concerned individuals as per the rules.

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"All PG residents of the 2024 batch residing in Family PG Hostel No. 7 of B.H. are hereby given a final opportunity and directed to get rooms allotted in ** New PG Hostel No. 14 located in the Umed Hospital campus. Alternatively, those 2024 batch residents who wish to continue staying in 1 B.H. Family PG Hostel No. 7 must pay the hostel fee and AC fee. In addition, as per market rates, they must deposit an extra charge of Rs 150 per day for three years (entire PG duration) in a lump sum at the cash branch. Failure to comply with the above instructions will result in disciplinary action against the concerned individuals as per rules," the order read. 

Following the order, Dr Harshad Sharma, joint secretary of the Indian Medical Association, Rajasthan, who is also a former medical student of the college, on the social media platform X, questioned the basis of the additional fee and called it a financial burden on resident doctors.

He said that the additional charge would mean an extra burden of approximately Rs 54,750 per year on the residents, despite already paying around Rs 26,495 annually towards hostel fees, electricity charges, and AC charges.

"What exactly is this so-called "market rate"? Under which rule or regulation are government resident doctors being charged such arbitrary additional fees? Why should resident doctors, who are already providing essential healthcare services day and night, be subjected to such financial exploitation? Resident doctors are trainees as well as the backbone of government hospitals. Imposing additional charges over and above existing hostel fees appears arbitrary, unreasonable, and contrary to the spirit of ensuring adequate welfare and accommodation facilities for postgraduate medical trainees. At a time when doctors are already facing excessive workload, safety concerns, and academic pressure, such decisions only add unnecessary financial stress," he said.

The association demanded immediate withdrawal of the additional Rs 150/day charge, transparency regarding the basis of this "market rate" calculation, accountability and action against officials responsible for imposing such unjust charges and intervention by the NMC and the Health Department to protect the interests of resident doctors.

Commenting on this, Dr Sharma told Medical Dialogues, "Recently, medical colleges in Rajasthan and several other states are not listening to the basic problems of MBBS students and PG residents. Instead, they are increasing the burden through excessive workload, long duty hours, and financial pressure. Administrations only follow government instructions but fail to understand the ground realities and difficulties faced by students and resident doctors."

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