Foreign Medical Graduates Demand Stipend Payments; ₹1 Lakh Security Deposit Sparks Controversy
Ahmedabad: The ALL FMGs Association (AFA) has accused the Gujarat Medical Council (GMC) of disregarding the National Medical Commission (NMC) directive mandating stipend payments to Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs). Despite official guidelines, many FMGs in Gujarat remain unpaid, while the GMC continues to enforce a ₹1 lakh security deposit on non-domicile FMGs— a requirement not mentioned in the NMC regulations.
Parliamentary Intervention Over Unpaid Stipends
The issue gained national attention after MP Parshottam Rupala took up the matter with Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel. In his letter, Rupala emphasized that FMG interns are entitled to a stipend of ₹21,840 per month, the same as Indian Medical Graduates (IMGs). However, many FMGs in Gujarat have not received their stipends despite completing several months of internship.
The letter called for immediate action from the Gujarat government to ensure stipend payments as per NMC and state government directives. However, there has been no official response from GMC on the issue so far.
₹1 Lakh Security Deposit Raises Concerns
In addition to unpaid stipends, AFA has questioned the ₹1 lakh refundable security deposit imposed on non-domicile FMGs. As per GMC’s policy:
- FMG interns from outside Gujarat must pay ₹1 lakh as a security deposit via demand draft to the Registrar, Gujarat Medical Council.
- If an FMG fails to join the allotted institute or leaves the internship mid-term, the deposit is forfeited.
- The deposit is refunded only after successful internship completion and obtaining permanent GMC registration.
FMGs Call for Immediate Action
Despite repeated appeals, FMGs in Gujarat continue to be denied their stipends, raising serious concerns over the lack of accountability within the GMC. The AFA has demanded urgent action, urging authorities to enforce stipend payments and end the financial burden imposed on non-domicile FMG interns.
With GMC remaining silent on the issue, frustration among FMGs is growing, prompting demands for stronger intervention to ensure their rightful dues. The question remains— will the Gujarat government finally act to resolve this pressing issue?
