Telangana FMG interns seek stipend parity, threaten protest

Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) completing mandatory rotatory medical internships at government hospitals in Telangana complain about unequal stipend payments and have threatened a protest. Some FMGs receive no stipend, while others earn only ₹5,000 per month, despite performing clinical duties comparable to Indian medical graduates.

The interns are demanding a monthly stipend of ₹29,792, plus arrears for January. They are seeking a Government Order (GO) or official circular to ensure equal pay with other medical interns, citing National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines and related legal and State orders. FMGs, who complete their medical education abroad and must pass the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) to practice in India, have been raising the stipend issue for four to five years but have not received a satisfactory resolution.

They had submitted representations to hospital superintendents, District Collectors, and the office of the Director of Medical Education. Starting October 11, the interns plan to refrain from emergency and casualty duties in protest, with a potential peaceful protest at the Director of Medical Education's office on October 14 if the issue remains unresolved.