Relief to Bihar MBBS Interns: Cabinet nod for increasing stipend to Rs 20,000 per month

Patna: In a major relief for the MBBS interns in Bihar, the State Cabinet has given its nod for the State Health Department's proposal for enhancing the amount of stipend from Rs 15,000 per month to Rs 20,000 per month.

This relief is not limited to the medical students only since the cabinet has approved increasing the internship amount to the junior doctors and staff belonging to the Government medical colleges, Dental Colleges and Ayurvedic colleges as well, adds HT.

The cabinet in its meeting chaired by the Chief Minister on last Tuesday had approved 19 proposals altogether including the revision in the stipend amount.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that protesting against the meagre salary of Rs 500 per day, around 1000 MBBS interns belonging to nine Government medical colleges in Bihar had initiated strike last month. The medicos claimed their salary to be the "minimum wage of a manual labourer".

Also Read: MBBS Interns in Bihar demand Stipend Hike, Close OPD Services

Demanding a hike of stipend from Rs 15,000 per month to a minimum Rs 35,000, the MBBS interns in Bihar had also started boycotting OPD services in their respective institutes.

Finally, the strike was called off by the medicos after the senior officers had given them an assurance for considering their demands.

As per the latest media report by Hindustan Times, finally the State has revised the stipend amount for MBBS interns. Confirming the same, the additional chief secretary (cabinet) S Sidharth informed the media that the interns of government medical colleges, dental colleges and Ayurvedic colleges will now get Rs 20,000 per month against the previous stipend of Rs 15,000 per month.

Similarly, the government has also revised the amount of stipend for the physiotherapist and occupational therapists. Earlier they used to get Rs 11,000 per months and now the State has given its nod for increasing their stipend to Rs 15,000 per month.

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