Private medical colleges evade stipend rules, saving crores

New Delhi

Private medical colleges across India are saving massive sums by underpaying or completely withholding stipends from MBBS interns and resident doctors, despite regulatory requirements. The National Medical Commission (NMC) has failed to take strict action, leading to financial exploitation of medical students.

According to NMC data, 60 colleges, including 33 government and 27 private institutions, have not paid any stipend to MBBS interns. Several private colleges have failed to submit stipend data, while others pay interns as little as ₹2,000 per month—far below the national minimum wage. In Andhra Pradesh, where government colleges pay ₹22,500 per month, private colleges offer just ₹2,000–₹5,000. Similarly, in Karnataka, while government stipends reach ₹30,000, private colleges pay only ₹10,000–₹12,000. NMC’s regulations mandate that private colleges pay resident doctors at par with government institutions, but vague wording regarding MBBS intern stipends has allowed colleges to exploit students. RTI activist Dr. KV Babu has repeatedly urged the health ministry to amend the clause, but no action has been taken.

Despite charging exorbitant tuition fees—up to ₹1.2 crore for NRI quota students—private colleges save crores annually by underpaying interns. Calls for centrally fixed and mandatory stipend rates continue to grow as the NMC struggles to enforce compliance, even after Supreme Court intervention. The financial burden on MBBS students is Immense, with private colleges charging hefty fees while neglecting fair stipend payments.