NO stipend for 5 months: ESIC Patna FMG interns protest, shut OPD

Patna: The foreign medical graduates (FMGs) undergoing their mandatory internship at ESIC Medical College, Patna, have not received any stipend for the last five months.

Upset over the delay in disbursement of stipend, the medical graduates from abroad today protested inside the medical college hospital and kept the Outpatient Department (OPD) services briefly closed. Around 70-80 such FMGs who are undergoing internship at the medical college participated in the protest. The emergency services remained unaffected and were kept operational.

According to the All FMGs Association (AFA), the FMGs at ESIC Patna are facing this issue despite clear directions issued in this regard by the High Court, Supreme Court, and the National Medical Commission (NMC)

Last year, when a similar matter was highlighted, the High Court had ordered ESIC to release the stipend, and the institute was also issued a legal notice in this regard. However, the situation persists this year as well.

The State Government pays Rs 20,000 to the intern doctors. On the other hand, as per the ESIC rules, the interns are to get Rs 30,070 as a monthly stipend. Last year, after the legal intervention, the ESIC had agreed to pay Rs 20,000 per month to the FMG interns.

Pointing out that the medicos are not receiving a stipend, AFA wrote in an X post, "@EsicPatna, has not paid stipends to Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) for the past five months. Today, FMGs protested to demand their rightful dues. This situation persists despite clear directions from the Hon’ble High Court, Supreme Court, and the National Medical Commission (@NMC_BHARAT). Last year, a similar issue arose, and the High Court ordered ESIC to release stipends. A legal notice was also served in this regard. Unfortunately, the same problem has resurfaced after a year. We, the FMGs, request @EsicPatna to take immediate action. Otherwise, we will be compelled to pursue legal remedies once again. It is important to highlight that the stipend amount set by @esichqis ₹30,070. However, last year only ₹20,000 was disbursed, which was in violation of the prescribed amount. We hereby request ESIC to disburse the full stipend amount within seven days to all FMGs."

Commenting on the matter, Dr Kaushal from AFA told Medical Dialogues, "Last year when the issue was raised, the ESIC authorities said that they have different headquarters and they do not come under the State Government. After the legal notice, ESIC started paying Rs 20,000 as per the State rules. For the last five months, the FMGs undergoing internship have not been receiving a stipend, even though the students highlighted the issue multiple times. In protest, today, the FMG interns protested and closed the OPD services. However, the Emergency services remained operational. We want the authorities to solve the issue at the earliest and provide a stipend to the FMGs as per the ESIC rules i.e. Rs 30,070 per month."

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