MP Doctors join MBBS interns' protest for Rs 30,000 stipend, slam police action, demand compensation for injured medicos
Bhopal: The medical interns in Madhya Pradesh are on strike demanding an enhancement in their monthly stipend from Rs 14, 337 to Rs 30,000 per month.
What started on Monday as a protest demanding a stipend hike has now escalated further as the junior and senior doctors have joined the agitation.
This comes after the recent clash between police officials and protesting interns, when the officials allegedly used water cannons to disperse the medicos.
In solidarity with the interns, the Junior Doctors' Associations of Government Medical Colleges across the State decided to suspend routine clinical services, including OPD and other non-emergency hospital activities, throughout the state with immediate effect.
The President of the Medical Teachers Association, MP, Dr. Rakesh Malviya, criticised the police action and questioned what the need was when the intern doctors were protesting peacefully. He mentioned in a statement that if in the future doctors have to face such incidents, all the doctors in Madhya Pradesh will stand with each other.
Also Read: MP MBBS interns on strike demanding stipend hike to Rs 30k, doctors extend support
Why are the Intern Doctors Protesting?
The MBBS interns in Madhya Pradesh have been demanding a hike in their stipend for the last couple of months. Currently, they receive a stipend of Rs 14,337, which is among the lowest in the country. They are demanding that their stipend be increased to Rs 30,000 per month.
Earlier, raising the issue, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) had written to the MP Chief Minister/ Referring to the stipend amount paid to them, FAIMA had mentioned that the amount was grossly inadequate in the current economic circumstances and fails to reflect the invaluable services rendered by them.
"MBBS interns are indispensable pillars of our healthcare system. They provide round-the-clock services in emergency departments, wards, labour rooms, operation theatres, and intensive care units while simultaneously undergoing rigorous clinical training. Their duties frequently extend beyond stipulated working hours, demanding exceptional commitment, resilience, and professionalism. The disparity between the stipend paid in Madhya Pradesh and that of several other states has become a matter of grave concern. While medical education costs continue to rise, interns struggle to meet basic expenses including accommodation, transportation, food, and academic requirements. Such inadequate financial support adversely affects the morale and well-being of future healthcare professionals," FAIMA had mentioned in the letter.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that back in July 2026, the MBBS interns from government medical colleges across Madhya Pradesh started an indefinite strike, demanding an increase in their monthly internship stipend from Rs 14,337 to Rs 30,000. As part of the protest, the interns had stopped performing clinical duties, alleging that repeated requests to the state government for the hike have not resulted in any action.
According to the delegation of interns, there are 3,655 MBBS interns in government and private medical colleges in the state, of which 2,055 are studying in government medical colleges. They said the annual MBBS course fee is around Rs 1 lakh, while interns receive a monthly stipend of only Rs 14,337. They claimed that in Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Gujarat, and Rajasthan, interns receive higher stipends despite relatively lower fees.
Talking to PTI, the protesters said that their main demand was a Rs 30,000 stipend per month and Rs 1.5 lakh compensation for their injured colleagues and action against cops involved in the violence.
Despite their earlier strike and repeated representation to the government authorities, their demands have not been met. Even though the Government had earlier assured to solve their grievances within a month, nothing has been done yet.
Police action:
Renewing their protest, the intern doctors from Gandhi Medical College at Hamidia Hospital on Monday marched towards the Chief Minister’s residence demanding a stipend hike.
However, they were stopped by police officials using barricades and water cannons. Several protesting doctors were allegedly injured during the clash with police. Following this, the protesters have demanded action against the use of force during a protest march.
Consequently, the protesting interns took to the streets again in the Kamla Park area on Tuesday, seeking a hike in stipend and Rs 1.5 lakh compensation for those injured during Monday’s police action.
Junior & Senior Doctors Join Agitation:
Extending their support to the agitating interns, the Junior Doctors Association, MP, on Tuesday announced suspension of routine clinical services, including OPD and other non-emergency hospital activities, throughout the state with immediate effect.
In a release, MP JUDA added that despite repeated representations and adequate opportunitu being provided to the authorities for constructive dialogue, no satisfactory resolution has yet been achieved.
"Yesterday, during the peaceful demonstration undertaken by interns and student representatives, reports of coercive crowd-control measures and use of force against protesting medical trainees have caused deep concern among the medical fraternity across the state. The Junior Doctors' Association (Central JDA), Madhya Pradesh strongly condemns any action that undermines the democratic and peaceful expression of legitimate grievances by medical students and interns," the release said.
"In solidarity with the interns and in pursuance of a collective decision taken by the Junior Doctors' Associations of Government Medical Colleges across Madhya Pradesh, it has been resolved to suspend routine clinical services, including OPD and other non-emergency hospital activities, throughout the state with immediate effect. However, all emergency, trauma, ICU, labour room, critical care, and other essential healthcare services shall continue uninterrupted in the interest of patient safety and public welfare," it further added.
JUDA has requested the authorities to immediately initiate meaningful and time-bound discussions with representatives of interns and junior doctors and address their legitimate demands through a fair and transparent mechanism.
"In the absence of a satisfactory response and concrete assurance from the Government, the ongoing agitation may be intensified further after consultation with all constituent JDA units of the State," the junior doctors warned.
Senior doctors at GMC have also extended their support to the ongoing protest. TOI has reported that questioning the police action against the peacefully protesting interns, Dr. Rakesh Malviya said, "If the government does not take strict action against the guilty policemen, all doctors will go on strike from Wednesday."
Discussions for Stipend Hike Underway, Probe ordered on police action:
Deputy Commissioner of Police Ayush Gupta told PTI that discussions are underway regarding the interns’ demands.
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters, Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla, who also holds the Health portfolio, said that positive discussions have taken place with the interns, and he is in touch with Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. He said that serious, positive discussions have taken place on both issues — the stipend increase and Monday’s police action — and that the matter will be discussed again in the evening.
According to eyewitnesses, traffic was disrupted in the Kamala Park area as interns sat on the road. The protest at Hamidia Hospital also disrupted outpatient department (OPD) operations, inconveniencing patients.
Meanwhile, an inquiry has been ordered into the use of water cannons during the protest, an official said. Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar ordered an inquiry, considering the seriousness of the matter, he said.
Also Read: 8000 doctors on strike in MP over stipend revision
