Private Medical Colleges Underpaying Interns Amid NMC Inaction

Private medical colleges in India are underpaying or withholding stipends from MBBS interns, with the NMC's ineffective enforcement leading to financial exploitation.

Private medical colleges across India are reportedly saving substantial amounts by underpaying or entirely withholding stipends from MBBS interns and resident doctors. This practice persists despite existing regulations mandating fair compensation. The National Medical Commission (NMC), the apex regulatory body, has been criticized for its ineffective enforcement, leading to significant disparities and financial exploitation within private institutions.

Disparities in Stipend Payments

Government vs. Private Institutions: While government medical colleges typically offer stipends ranging from ₹12,000 to ₹35,000 per month, many private colleges pay significantly less. In Andhra Pradesh, for example, government colleges pay MBBS interns ₹22,500 per month, whereas private institutions offer as little as ₹2,000 to ₹5,000.

Tuition Fees vs. Stipends: Despite charging annual tuition fees between ₹25 lakh and ₹45 lakh, numerous private colleges pay meager stipends. A deemed university medical college in Pondicherry, with annual tuition fees of ₹25 lakh, pays interns just ₹5,000 per month.

Regulatory Challenges and NMC's Response

Data Submission and Compliance: The NMC's data reveals that 60 colleges (33 government and 27 private) do not pay any stipend to MBBS interns. Moreover, many private institutions have failed to submit their stipend payment details. Initially threatening action, the NMC has since deferred responsibility to state authorities.

Vague Regulations: The NMC's Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship Regulations, 2021, ambiguously state that "all interns shall be paid stipend as fixed by the appropriate authority applicable to the institution/University or State." This vagueness has allowed private colleges to exploit loopholes, resulting in inadequate stipend payments.

Legal Actions and Activism

Supreme Court Involvement: The Supreme Court has questioned the rationale behind colleges charging exorbitant fees while neglecting stipend payments. In a hearing, the court remarked, "Pay interns or don't have internships," emphasizing the necessity of fair compensation.

RTI Activism: Activists like Dr. KV Babu have persistently highlighted these issues. Dr. Babu alerted the health ministry in 2022 about the vague wording regarding stipends and advocated for mandatory parity with government medical colleges. However, neither the health ministry nor the NMC has addressed these concerns.

Conclusion

The ongoing exploitation of medical interns and residents through inadequate stipend payments by private medical colleges underscores a pressing need for regulatory reform and stringent enforcement. Ensuring fair compensation is not only a matter of equity but also essential for maintaining the integrity and quality of medical education in India.