Action Against 198 medical colleges over non-payment of Stipend for Medicos? NMC says Matter sub-judice
Non-Payment of Stipend
New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has not yet taken any action against 198 medical colleges that were found to be not paying any stipend to their interns and resident doctors.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that back in November, last year, NMC had slapped show-cause notices to these institutes for non-compliance with the Commission's directions to upload the details of the stipend paid to the interns and resident doctors.
Releasing a list of those 198 medical colleges on 28.11.2024, NMC had specified that the failure of those colleges to submit the information regarding stipends was "considered seriously".
The list of medical colleges included renowned institutes such as Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC), New Delhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences and Dr. RML Hospital, New Delhi, Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College, Rohini, ESIC run medical colleges, Raipur Institute of Medical Sciences RIMS, GMERS medical colleges, Maharishi Markandeshwar Medical College & Hospital, DY Patil medical college, MGM Vashi and many more.
Also Read: Why no stipend details yet? NMC slaps notice on 198 medical colleges
Issuing the show-cause, NMC had asked them to explain why penal action should not be taken against them for this non-compliance. It had also directed the defaulting colleges to furnish the data relating to payment of stipends during 2023-2024.
Seeking to know what action the Commission took against these medical colleges. Dr. Babu filed an RTI on 10.12.2024 seeking the details of the stipend submitted by 115 Government medical colleges and 83 private medical colleges based on the show cause notice issued by the NMC. He also sought to know if any action was taken against these institutes.
However, in response to the RTI application, NMC on 13.01.2025 replied, "The matter has been transferred to legal section UGMEB, NMC and as per available information the matter is sub-judice."
Commenting on the matter, Dr. KV Babu told Medical Dialogues, "The NMC tried to create a "hype" by uploading the results of a survey among students & PGs regarding stipend in 2023 August & copy of the show cause issued to medical colleges who did not submit the details of the stipend paid to interns & PGs in 2024 November."
"A closer examination of the reply availed using RTI gives an impression that NMC always tried to shield those medical colleges who violated the interns regulations & PGME regulations, by not disclosing the details," he added.
The Apex Medical Education Regulatory Body, NMC, had asked the institutes to submit the stipend data after the Supreme Court had taken cognizance of the matter and issued directions to the Commission to submit the details of the stipend paid to MBBS interns in all the medical colleges across all the States within four weeks.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Supreme Court had taken note of an allegation that MBBS interns in 70 percent of the medical colleges in the country were not paid a stipend.
Accordingly, after the Supreme Court's directions, NMC had given a deadline to the medical colleges to submit the details of the stipend paid to their UG Interns, Post-Graduate Residents, and Senior Residents of PGs in Super Specialty for the financial year 2023-2024 by 23rd April 2024.
The medical colleges were directed to submit the details of their name and address, the amount of stipend paid by the State Government, and the month-wise details of the stipend paid to the MBBS interns, 1st/2nd/3rd-year Post-Graduate Residents, and 1st/2nd/3rd-year Senior Residents or PGs in Super Specialty for the academic year 2023-2024.
NMC provided a similar annexure for the details of the stipend paid to the medical students for the academic year 2024-2025. However, in this regard, the Commission had directed the concerned colleges to update these details on the website of the institute every month (by 5th of every month). The colleges had been asked to submit the complete statement to the NMC at the end of each financial year.
However, noting that many medical colleges did not submit the requisite details of the stipend paid to the MBBS, PG medical students and resident doctors for the academic year 2023-2024, back in April 2024, NMC had directed the defaulting institutes to submit the stipend data immediately by 02.05.2024.
Back then, NMC had warned the defaulting medical colleges that the failure on the part of the colleges to submit the data would be viewed seriously, adding that NMC would take strict action against the colleges for non-compliance.
Previously, Dr. Babu had filed another RTI on 27th August 2023, seeking the details of the name and list of medical colleges which after paying stipend to the students were taking the amount back. The RTI was filed after NMC conducted a survey and revealed that the stipend given to 1228 students participating in the survey by the colleges/institutes was taken back by the management.
He had also sought to know the notice issued by NMC to those colleges and the status of recognition of PG courses of those colleges. However, in response, NMC had informed on 27th September 2023, "Third Party information cannot be given under Section 8(e) of RTI Act, 2005."
Back then, He had demanded that the names of the medical colleges which took back the stipend paid to the PG medical students, should be made public.
