Stipend parity protest- Over 90 FMGs detained in Telangana

Hyderabad: Several foreign medical graduates (FMGs) were detained by police during a protest outside the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) in Koti, Hyderabad, while demanding an equal stipend in parity with Indian medical graduates.

As per the latest Deccan Chronicle report, the protesters were taken to Chikadpally, Dabeerpura and Malakpet police stations before being released. 

Meanwhile, a senior Sultan Bazaar police officer told TOI around 91 protesters were taken into preventive custody at 3 pm and were released at around 7 pm.  According to the officer, the action was taken because "protests were not permitted outside the DME office."

Also read- Telangana FMG interns protest demanding stipend parity with IMGs, pending arrears

The agitation began after the doctors working in government general hospitals informed the DME about their protest on September 23. Since then, they have held demonstrations at different locations, including Dharna Chowk, People's Plaza and the Telangana State Medical Council (TSMC) office. Thursday's protest took place outside the DME office in Koti.

Commenting on this, an FMG intern said, "We have been asking for equal pay for equal work, but nobody is willing to meet us. The DME is avoiding us, and neither the health secretary nor the health minister has agreed to meet us. We have not received any written assurance so far."

"After demanding a GO asking for equal stipend for FMG doctors as IMG doctors, the young doctors were brutally detained, with police using excessive force against protestors who resisted detention or were taking videos. Instead of engaging in constructive dialogue, we are deeply concerned by threats from officials regarding the cancellation of our mandatory internship in government medical colleges," the interns said in a press release statement as reported by Deccan Chronicle. 

Medical Dialogues had reported that the FMG interns began their protest by boycotting routine duties since October 8. They have demanded that the state government issue an order or circular fixing their monthly stipend at Rs 29,792, on par with their colleagues.

These interns have stated that even though the MBBS interns in Telangana normally get Rs 29,792 per month, the FMG interns are reportedly denied equal payment despite performing equal duties. They also sought the release of eligible arrears from January 2026 and claimed that they had received Rs 5,000 a month in arrears at some government medical colleges, however, several others have not been paid for months despite reporting for internship duties. 

Along with this, the protesters urged the authorities to ensure that interns participating in peaceful demonstrations were not subjected to punitive measures, including unfair extensions of their internship.

Strongly condemning the detention of the interns, Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) in a post on X wrote, "15 days of peaceful protest for their rightful stipend, yet today FMG doctors were reportedly detained at the DME office! @TelanganaCMO & @TelanganaHealth, is this how doctors seeking their legitimate rights are treated? Why police action instead of dialogue? Why should doctors have to protest for their basic stipend? FAIMA demands your immediate intervention, the release of detained doctors, their safety, and urgent resolution of their stipend demands. Doctors deserve respect and justice, not detention for raising their voices!"

Also, Telangana Senior Resident Doctors Association (TSRDA), Junior Doctors Association, Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association condemned the detention of FMG doctors.

Also read- FMGs need to Clear Screening Test within 10 Years of Completing Their Course: NMC