Intern Doctors of Tripura Medical College protest, seek hike in stipend

Agartala: The trainee doctors associated with the Tripura Medical College have gone on an indefinite strike since June 13 demanding a hike in their stipend amount, following which the medical services at the Tripura Medical College and Hospital were affected.

The protest by the doctors entered into the second day on Tuesday, with many raising the issue of water problems in the hostel as well.

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The North East Live reports that the intern doctors alleged that their stipends are very less compared to their duty hours and the fellow trainee doctors are receiving at the Agartala Government Medical College. They further complained that they are made to overwork and are also underpaid. They added that their stipend was last hiked back in 2017-2018.

The interns spoke about the wide gap in the stipends being paid to the trainee doctors of Tripura Medical College as compared to the stipends being paid to the trainees at the Agartala Government Medical College.

As per a media report in The Meghalayan, Dr Saiful Islam, one of the protestors said that the honorarium was last increased in 2017, adding, "Since then, despite the increase in commodity prices, the college authorities have not thought about increasing our allowance." Dr Islam said that their stipend was last increased to Rs 14,500 in 2017.

The doctor added that they have to visit the hospital day and night for medical services in rural areas for which they do not receive any money for travel expenses. Because of that, they have to spend their own money while providing medical services in rural areas. They had also previously asked the authorities to increase their allowance multiple times, but the college did not take any steps to resolve the issue, the doctor said.

He said, "Intern doctors of Agartala Government Medical College are receiving Rs 21,000 while we are receiving Rs 14,500 which is very less. And we are indeed being deprived." The interns alleged that it was not possible to continue the service in the hospital without an acceptable amount.

One of the protesting interns said that they have also written to the Chief Minister, Dr Manik Saha who is also the Health Minister of the state and former faculty of the college. They have reportedly asked him to intervene and resolve the issue positively. The interns are paid Rs 14,500, out of which Rs 2,000 is deducted for hostel fees. Consequently, they receive only Rs 12,500 in total.

Speaking to the DNA India, one of the interns alleged that the internees of the Tripura Medical College are being overworked and underpaid. The intern said, "The last hike was in 2017-2018 and now it's 2022, can you compare. The economic condition, the inflation, the price rise everything has been too much and despite that, there has been no hike in our internship stipend." The intern added that even a daily wage labourer gets a wage of Rs 500 per day, whereas they are working two shifts per day, with most of the work of the tertiary medical sector being dependent on them. The protestor said that despite that, they are being paid around Rs 416 per day, adding that they are being turned into a daily labourer with a stethoscope.

There has been no water in the hospital for the last two days due to which they are facing multiple problems as well. The interns alleged that despite paying the fees, they are not being provided even a little water service, reports The Tripura Post.

Dr J K Poddar, Medical Superintendent of the hospital and HOD Paediatrics department told the Northeast Live that the protesting students are not salaried staff but rather MBBS course students and they get internship stipend which is fixed by individual colleges. Dr Poddar added that the amount varies from one college to another as there is no fixed amount set by the government.

Further, Dr Poddar said the intern doctors did not give any prior notification before starting the agitation, adding that no hike in stipends is possible without the approval of the management committee.

However, the hospital superintendent has reportedly called the protesting students after the strike, assuring them that their problems would be discussed with the authorities concerned. But the intern doctors have stated that they would only withdraw their protests if their demands are met.

The intern doctors said that they are ready to join the work, but demanded an increase in their honorarium. Dr Islam said, "After we protested, the college authorities discussed and assured us that our demands will be fulfilled. However, we will not lift our strike till we get any written assurance from the hospital authority. The strike will continue until our demands are fulfilled."

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