Who’s on call at your ER? In Bengal, the intern may be a paid stand-in

In West Bengal, the practice of medical interns trading emergency room duties for fixed hourly rates has become widespread across medical colleges in Kolkata and other parts of the state, according to officials. This "cash-for-duty" network, involving monetary transactions and shift exchanges, involves interns using WhatsApp groups to advertise their availability and the pay they expect.

The state Health Department has introduced a biometric attendance system to monitor this practice, which has been found to be operating in nearly all government hospitals. The issue was discussed during a recent meeting between Health Minister Sharadwat Mukhopadhyay and medical college principals, who expressed ignorance about the practice.

The Health Department aims to eradicate this malpractice, with the Health Minister calling for strict action against those involved and emphasizing the importance of patient safety over monetary gain.