In a significant development concerning the payment of stipends to MBBS interns, the Supreme Court (April 01) directed the National Medical Commission (NMC) to provide comprehensive details regarding stipend payments by medical colleges across all States.
The Court observed that the NMC had failed to furnish complete information on stipend payments from medical colleges nationwide, thus not complying with the previous directive issued on September 15, 2023.
Previously, the Court had instructed the NMC to submit a tabulated chart explaining (i) whether it’s true that 70% of medical colleges don’t pay stipends to interns or pay amounts below the minimum set stipend, and (ii) the measures being taken to ensure compliance with stipend norms.
Expressing concerns over medical colleges’ failure to adequately compensate interns, Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia remarked on the exorbitant fees charged by these institutions without commensurate stipend payments.
During the recent hearing, Advocate Tanvi Dubey highlighted that even Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) aren’t receiving stipends. The Court, displeased with this distinction, emphasized equal treatment for all interns.
The Court has set a deadline of four weeks for the NMC to provide the stipend details and scheduled a final hearing for May 6, 2024.
Case Title: Abhishek Yadav and others v. Army College of Medical Sciences | W.P.(C) No. 730/2022
