Dr. KV Babu’s RTI exposes gap in stipend enforcement; NMC deflects accountability to State Authorities
New Delhi: In a startling revelation, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has admitted that 60 medical colleges in India — including 33 government and 27 private institutions — are not paying any stipend to MBBS interns and resident doctors, violating mandatory guidelines.
The disclosure was made in response to a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by Dr. KV Babu, a Kerala-based public health activist. The RTI response revealed that many medical colleges pay a meagre stipend of ₹2,000 to ₹7,000, with around 50 more colleges providing ₹5,000 or less — amounts far below acceptable standards.
Despite NMC regulations mandating fair stipend payment, the Commission claimed that implementation is the responsibility of the respective State or UT authorities. This deflection of responsibility has drawn sharp criticism from the medical fraternity.
States with the Most Non-Paying Colleges
The list includes institutions from states like Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, and Telangana. Notable government colleges such as Seth GS Medical College (Mumbai), Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences (Karnataka), and Government Medical College, Jagtial (Telangana) were named among those offering zero stipend.
On the private side, institutions from Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana were prominent on the list. Some institutes — including Shadan Institute of Medical Sciences (Telangana) and Maharajah Institute of Medical Sciences (Andhra Pradesh) — were also identified for non-payment.
NMC’s Prior Action and Continued Inaction
In November 2024, NMC issued show-cause notices to 198 medical colleges for failing to disclose stipend data, following Supreme Court observations on the issue. Despite having the regulatory authority under the Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations (MSMER), 2023, NMC has largely avoided taking penal action, insisting the matter lies with State authorities.
Dr. Babu criticized this stance, stating,
“NMC found the violations but refused to act, citing state control. This is absurd. When 33 government colleges are involved, no state body will act against itself. The NMC should act as per its own regulations.”
He added that he has also escalated the issue to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and urged the Union Health Ministry to intervene under Section 45 of the NMC Act.
Wider Implications
Of the 753 medical colleges in India, only 555 colleges (290 government and 265 private) had submitted stipend data for 2023–24. The rest — including many prestigious institutions — failed to provide any data, raising serious concerns about transparency and regulatory compliance.
As the issue gains national attention, calls are growing louder for the Health Minister and PMO to take swift corrective action and ensure fair treatment of young doctors — the backbone of India’s healthcare system.
