Stipend hike: MBBS interns in Maharashtra GMCs now to get Rs 18k per month
Pune: The Maharashtra State Government has sanctioned a substantial raise in the monthly stipend for MBBS intern doctors from government medical colleges (GMC) in the state. The decision, finalized during a cabinet meeting under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, results in an increase of Rs 7,000, raising the stipend to Rs 18,000 from the previous Rs 11,000.
The increased stipend, applicable from February 2024, also extends to Foreign Medical Graduates (FMG) who have completed their MBBS outside India and are interning in GMCs in Maharashtra upon their return.
The decision comes in response to persistent demands from interning doctors who have long claimed that Maharashtra offered the lowest stipends in this category.
Dr Atharva Shinde, President of the Association of State Medical Interns (ASMI) in Maharashtra, expressed relief, stating, "We have been demanding a monthly stipend of Rs 30,000. States like Karnataka and Assam are paying this amount. But we are relieved that with the increased stipend, Maharashtra is at least not the lowest paying state to intern doctors in GMCs."
Dr Shinde further explained that the initial proposal submitted to the state government by the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) was Rs 22,000. "Finally, the state has decided to increase it to Rs 18,000 a month. This took almost an entire year. Most of us are going to complete our internship in the coming months. So we accept whatever the raise is."
Also Read: Rs 22k Stipend Proposed For MBBS, BDS Interns In Maharashtra, No Decision Yet For BAMS Students
In July 2023, ASMI had written a letter to the state government urging an increase in the stipend for intern doctors, highlighting that the monthly stipend had not been revised for a prolonged period, while MBBS fees continued to rise. The association also provided a comparison with higher stipends offered by most other states.
While acknowledging that Maharashtra is not among the highest-paying states, Dr Shinde expressed gratitude that the state addressed their concerns and increased the monthly stipend, reports The Indian Express.
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