Supreme Court to Hear Pleas in July; Private Institutes Among Top Offenders Despite High Fees
New Delhi:
In a concerning revelation, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has informed the Supreme Court that several private and government-run medical colleges across India are failing to pay MBBS interns the mandated stipends — with some not paying any amount at all. According to NMC’s recent submission, at least 60 medical colleges, including 27 private and 33 government institutions, do not pay any stipend to their medical interns, despite the rigorous clinical duties they perform.
This disclosure comes ahead of the Supreme Court’s scheduled hearing in July 2025, which will examine pleas related to the non-payment of stipends to MBBS interns. The court had taken cognisance of the issue last year after reports claimed that nearly 70% of medical colleges in India were not paying appropriate stipends to their interns.
Earlier, the Apex Court, led by Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Prasanna Bhalachandra Varale, had directed the NMC to furnish a comprehensive state-wise chart detailing stipend payments across all medical colleges for the financial year 2023–24. While NMC did submit partial data initially, the court insisted on a complete submission within four weeks.
In compliance, the NMC asked all medical colleges to report stipend details for UG Interns, PG Residents, and Super-Specialty PGs. The results paint a bleak picture.
Private Colleges Pay Pennies Despite Massive Fees
While government interns in several states receive stipends in the range of ₹30,000 to ₹35,000 per month, private medical colleges continue to exploit students. For example, many private institutes in Andhra Pradesh offer only ₹2,000 to ₹5,000 per month—despite charging tuition fees that range between ₹65 lakh to ₹1 crore for an MBBS seat.
Even more troubling are reports from Telangana and Karnataka, where interns allege that colleges credit the stipend amount only to reclaim it in cash, leaving students helpless. Some students also reported threats of academic penalties if they questioned or resisted the unethical practice, despite enduring 36 to 40-hour hospital shifts.
Regulatory Gaps Allow Exploitation
Although the Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations (2023) require private institutions to pay stipends equivalent to government colleges in the same State/UT, the Internship Regulations (2021) remain vague about enforcement, creating loopholes that institutions exploit.
As the Supreme Court prepares to deliberate the matter in July, affected interns, medical bodies, and rights groups hope for a directive that enforces uniform stipend policies and punishes non-complying institutions.
