Submit Details of Stipend paid to MBBS Interns by Medical Colleges in All States: SC Directs NMC

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has directed the National Medical Commission (NMC) to submit the details of the stipend paid to MBBS interns in all the medical colleges across all States within four weeks.

While considering the allegation of non-payment of stipend to MBBS interns in 70 percent of the medical colleges in the country, the Apex Court bench referred to its earlier order dated 15.09.2023, through which NMC was told to respond to the claim by filing an affidavit giving a tabulated chart of colleges which were paying the stipend to the interns and which were not paying.

Noting that the details submitted by NMC were not of all the medical colleges across all the States, the Apex Court bench comprising Justices Sudhanshhu Dhulia and Prasanna Bhalachandra Varale ordered on April 01, 2024, "The details which have been given by the National Medical Commission is not of the entire medical colleges in the States and therefore, the direction given by this Court in its order dated 15.09.2023 at para 10 had not been complied with. Let the same be done positively within a period of four weeks from today."

Meanwhile, the top court bench directed the petitioner to file a rejoinder to the counter affidavit already filed by National Medical Commission. The matter has been listed for further hearing on 06.05.2023.

Also Read: Either Pay or Don't have Internship! SC on Medical Colleges charging Rs 1 crore fee but not paying stipend to MBBS interns

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Supreme Court bench had taken cognisance of the issue while considering a plea filed by five MBBS students studying at Army College of Medical Sciences (ACMS) affiliated with Guru Govind Singh Indraprastha University seeking a stipend for the period of internship.

While considering the plea filed by ACMS students, the top court bench had directed the medical college to start paying its Interns Rs 25,000 per month from October 1, 2023. During the hearing of the case, the counsel for the students Advocate Vaibhav Gagghar informed the bench that a recent NMC report stated that 70 per cent of the medical colleges in the country were not paying stipends to their interns.

Taking note of this, the bench had directed the National Medical Commission's counsel Advocate Gaurav Sharma to respond to the claim and file an affidavit. 

"Mr Gaurav Sharma, counsel appearing for the National Medical Commission shall file a tabulated chart and explain (i) whether the statement which has been made to the above effect is correct; and (ii) what steps the National Medical Commission is taking to ensure compliance with the norms for payment of internship stipends," the bench had ordered on 15.09.2023.

At the previous hearing, the top court bench had expressed concern over the fact that even after charging crores of rupees for the MBBS course, the medical colleges were not adequately paying stipends to the MBBS interns. "What kind of medical colleges are they? They are charging one crore, I do not know how much they are charging for postgraduate students and they are not prepared to give the stipend also," the top court bench comprising Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Prasanna B Varale had observed.

"Either you pay them, or you don't have the internship," Justice Dhulia had earlier observed.

Meanwhile, during the hearing of the matter on April 1, lawyer Tanvi Dubey, appearing for a group of doctors, informed the bench that the foreign medical graduates in certain medical colleges are not being paid stipends during their internships.

Taking note of this, the Supreme Court said that the FMGs cannot be treated differently and should be paid stipends during their internship like their counterparts who have done MBBS from Indian medical colleges.

To view the Supreme Court order, click on the link below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/supreme-court-mbbs-stipend-235633.pdf

Also Read: Supreme Court relief: FMGs to now get stipend during internship as Indian MBBS interns