NEW DELHI: The Centre is weighing a revision of MBBS internship stipends after a break in the two-year revision cycle followed over the previous six years, with a health ministry RTI reply revealing that a proposal is under active consideration. Thousands of interns across central government medical colleges and AIIMS institutions could benefit if the move is approved.Health Ministry records show that the stipend was revised from Rs 23,500 per month with effect from January 1, 2018, to Rs 26,300 from January 1, 2020, and to Rs 30,070 from January 1, 2022. No revision has been announced since then, making this the first break in the biennial revision pattern.In a response to an RTI application seeking details on the non-revision of MBBS internship stipends after January 1, 2022, the ministry of health and family welfare said the matter is currently under consideration and undergoing review, vetting and administrative examination by competent authorities.”The matter involves a policy decision and is presently under consideration within the ministry. The proposal is under review, vetting and administrative examination by the competent authorities,” the Ministry said in its June 15 reply. Interns form a critical part of the healthcare workforce in government hospitals, assisting in outpatient departments, emergency services, wards and public health programmes while completing their compulsory rotatory internship training.The National Medical Commission (NMC) has repeatedly flagged concerns over non-payment and unequal payment of stipends across medical colleges and directed institutions to ensure timely payment to interns and resident doctors.While confirming that a proposal is under examination, the ministry declined to disclose file notings, committee observations and inter-departmental consultations, citing Section 8(1)(i) of the RTI Act, which exempts records related to an ongoing decision-making process until a final decision is taken.Medical students’ groups have long sought periodic revision of stipends, arguing that rising living costs and wide variations in payments across institutions have increased the financial burden on interns despite similar workloads.Although the ministry has not indicated the likely quantum of any increase or a timeline for a decision, the RTI reply confirms that the issue is formally under consideration within the government.
