NMC Action Sought Over Alleged Stipend Violations in Maharashtra's Private Medical Colleges

Mumbai: Despite the National Medical Commission (NMC) regulations directing a uniform stipend policy for all the government and private medical institutes across a State/UT, the private medical colleges in Maharashtra are allegedly violating the guidelines. 

Highlighting this, a medical education activist from Maharashtra, Brijesh Sutaria, has urged NMC and the competent authorities in the State to take concrete action.

Regulation 13 of the Post Graduate Medical Education Regulation, 2000 mentions that "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."

NMC had reiterated similar directives in the Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMER 2023) also. In these regulations, the Apex Medical Commission had directed that the post-graduate students undergoing post-graduate Degree/Diploma/Super-speciality courses in all the institutions shall be paid a stipend at par with the stipend being paid to the post-graduate students of State Government medical institutions/Central Government medical institutions, in the State/Union Territory where the institution is located.

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

Despite these regulations, the disparity between the stipend paid to the resident doctors at private and government medical colleges continues. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that back in 2023, NMC had conducted an online survey. Among the 10,178 responses received from the PG medical colleges, the survey revealed that altogether 2110 PG medical students from 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 on payment of stipends to resident doctors, NMC had back then warned to take action against private medical colleges for non-compliance with the provisions of the PGMER 2000 regulations.

However, medical education activist Brijesh Sutaria claimed that the situation in Maharashtra has not changed, as private medical colleges continue to violate the NMC norms for paying stipends to resident doctors at par with the stipends paid by government medical colleges.

Speaking to Medical Dialogues, he said, "Despite NMC's 2023 notification on PG stipends, private and deemed medical colleges in Maharashtra continue to violate the norms."

"With the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling mandating transparency, uniformity, and fairness in NEET PG counselling, it's time for NMC and Maharashtra's competent authorities to take concrete action. These are critical medical education regulation issues urgent and impactful," he added.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that recently the Supreme Court had issued a 10-point directives to ensure transparency in the postgraduate medical admission process. One of the major directions issued by the Supreme Court was to ask National Board of Examinations to publish raw scores, answer keys and normalisation formula for NEET PG exam.

Apart from issuing directions to the NBE to ensure transparency in the NEET PG exam, the top court bench ordered for the implementation of a Nationally synchronized counselling calendar to align AIQ and State rounds and prevent seat blocking across systems, mandating Pre-Counselling Fee-Disclosure by all private/ deemed universities, setting up a Centralized Fee Regulation Framework under the National Medical Commission (NMC), permitting to upgrade windows post-round 2 for admitted candidates to shift to better seats without reopening counselling to new entrants etc.

Referring to the Supreme Court ruling, Mr. Sutaria added, "How many more directives and verdicts will it take? Despite the NMC’s August 2023 notification mandating equal stipends for PG medical students in private and deemed colleges, especially in Maharashtra, compliance remains alarmingly poor. Thousands of students report being unpaid, underpaid, or forced to return their stipends highlighting a serious gap between regulation and reality. Now, with the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment on 22nd May 2025 mandating transparent NEET PG counselling, pre declared fee structures, and a synchronized national counselling calendar, the demand for real implementation is louder than ever."

"Will the NMC and State authorities finally take decisive action? Medical education cannot be built on PDF circulars, token press releases, or half-hearted advisories. Students deserve more than promises they deserve justice, accountability, and protection of their rights," he added.

Also Read: SC's NEET PG Reforms Win Doctors Praise, But Double-Shift Doubts Remain