Tirupati, September 13: Following nationwide protests by medical interns, paramedical interns in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, have launched a sit-in demanding a stipend. Various government medical colleges in the state, including Andhra Medical College in Visakhapatnam and SV Medical College in Tirupati, have joined the demonstrations.
Currently, paramedical interns in Andhra Pradesh, including MLT and Health Science students, do not receive any official or regular stipend. The interns are protesting against working 12-hour shifts without pay, demanding a monthly stipend of ₹15,000.
A viral video from the protests shows police dragging a female student by her hair, highlighting the chaos during the demonstrations.
In a related incident, MBBS interns in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, faced water cannon attacks during their protests. Their demands were eventually met, with their stipend increased from ₹14,337 to ₹21,500.
Amidst the unrest, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has ordered an investigation into the use of water cannons against the interns, who stated, “We are doctors, not criminals.” In Indore, a rally was organized by intern doctors in solidarity with their protesting colleagues in Bhopal.
In Jammu and Kashmir, MBBS and BDS interns have been on indefinite strike since August 31, demanding increased stipends. They initiated a 48-hour hunger strike on September 7, insisting that their movement will continue until the government issues a formal order regarding their stipend demands.
In Uttarakhand, around 600 medical interns are also on strike, seeking to raise their stipend from ₹17,000 to ₹30,000. They have boycotted OPD and ward duties, although interns on emergency duty continue to treat patients. The movement is led under the banner of Voice of Interns – Uttarakhand.
Intern doctors argue that their stipend is lower than that of interns in other states. The Directorate of Medical Education has stated that a proposal for stipend revision is being prepared, and reports from medical colleges have been requested.
According to Indian law, the stipend for MBBS medical interns is not solely at the discretion of colleges. The NMC’s Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship Regulations, 2021, stipulate that all interns must receive a stipend determined by the relevant institution, university, or state authority.