Hyderabad: Hundreds of foreign medical graduates (FMGs) in Telangana have withdrawn from duties over disparity in internship stipends, disrupting outpatient and emergency services at govt hospitals across the state.FMGs are doctors who complete their MBBS abroad and clear the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE). They must then complete a mandatory internship to qualify for registration and practise in India.While Indian medical graduates receive a monthly stipend of about ₹29,792 in Telangana, FMG interns are paid just ₹5,000, they said. In a representation to the Director of Medical Education (DME), they have demanded parity in stipends and payment of arrears dating back to Jan 2026.Telangana is among the lowest-paying states for FMG interns. Odisha pays around ₹44,000 a month, West Bengal ₹43,000, Assam ₹36,225 and Karnataka ₹30,000. Earlier this month, Gujarat announced stipend parity, with FMG interns now receiving ₹21,840 a month, on par with Indian medical graduates.Meanwhile, FMG interns in Rajasthan and Chandigarh have reportedly gone unpaid for months.“The disparity makes it difficult for interns to meet basic expenses such as food, rent and travel. Many have also taken education loans to fund their medical degrees. With internships allotted in different cities, the cost of living adds to the financial burden,” said Mohd Mohsin, an intern at the govt general hospital in Karimnagar. A native of Warangal, he completed his MBBS at a university in Georgia.“We perform the same duties and work the same shifts as other interns. The only difference is where we obtained our degrees. Many of us have spent around ₹50 lakh on our MBBS education and many have taken loans. We are not asking for a favour, but for the parity that the rules provide for,” said Sai Shashank, an intern at a govt hospital in Nagarkurnool. A native of Shadnagar, he also completed his MBBS in Georgia.The National Medical Commission (NMC) has said a uniform stipend across the country is impractical because of variations in state budgets and living costs. However, it has maintained that FMGs and Indian medical graduates should receive equal stipends within the same state or institution.Meanwhile, the FMGs have warned that they will stage a statewide protest at the DME office in Hyderabad from Oct 14 if their demands are not addressed.A senior health official said that the representation has been sent to the state govt and the issue is under consideration.
Source link
