Stipend Struggle: Foreign Medical Graduates Fight for Rights in Gujarat

The Supreme Court has sought responses from the National Medical Commission and others regarding a plea about unpaid stipends for foreign medical graduates interning in Gujarat. These graduates face economic difficulties and are denied stipends despite regulations mandating equal pay with Indian graduates.

The Supreme Court has called for responses from the National Medical Commission (NMC) and other concerned parties regarding a plea over unpaid stipends to foreign medical graduates completing their internships in Gujarat. The plea was submitted by the All India Parents Association Belarus Medical Students, highlighting significant economic hardships faced by these graduates due to this oversight.

The legal challenge underscores a violation of statutory obligations, as outlined in Clause 3 (Schedule IV) of the National Medical Commission (Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship) Regulations, 2021, which ensures stipend parity between foreign and Indian medical graduates. Notwithstanding repeated circulars issued by the NMC reaffirming this entitlement, foreign graduates continue to fund their expenses independently, leading to pressing financial duress.

The petitioners have appealed for judicial intervention to direct authorities to allocate regular stipends retroactively to foreign medical graduates across institutions governed by the Gujarat Medical Council and the Gujarat Medical Education and Research Society. Despite verbal commitments from the state's chief officials, as evidenced by directions from the chief minister's office, effective implementation remains elusive.

(With inputs from agencies.)