MBBS interns at Patna Medical College (PMCH) demand stipend hike from ₹20,000 to ₹40,000, warning of OPD shutdown if Bihar govt fails to act.
The long-standing debate over MBBS interns’ stipends in Bihar has once again resurfaced, highlighting persistent concerns among young doctors over pay parity and recognition. On Friday, intern doctors at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) staged a protest, demanding a 100% hike in their monthly stipend—from the current ₹20,000 to ₹40,000.
Backed by the Junior Doctors’ Association (JDA), the interns began their demonstration in a peaceful manner. Nearly 200 medical students wore black armbands while attending to their duties, a symbolic gesture to draw attention to their unmet demands. While Friday’s protest remained calm, the interns issued a strong warning that their agitation could intensify in the coming days if the state government continued to remain unresponsive.
Protest and Warning of Escalation
The interns recalled that their stipends were last revised in 2022, when the state government had increased the allowance with a clear assurance that another revision would be made after three years. However, despite repeated appeals, reminders, and letters, no action has been taken to honor that promise.
This delay has left the medicos feeling ignored and undervalued. The JDA announced that, unless the government takes urgent steps, the interns will be forced to shut down outpatient department (OPD) services across all government medical colleges in Bihar starting Tuesday. Such a move, they warned, would severely disrupt healthcare delivery in the state, as OPDs are the first point of contact for thousands of patients every day.
“Our fight is not just about money, but about respect and survival,” said one of the protesting interns. “We work long hours under challenging conditions. All we are asking for is fair treatment and parity with our peers in other institutions.”
Disparity with Other Institutions and States
The interns also pointed out glaring disparities in stipend structures, both within Bihar and in comparison with other states. For instance:
- Interns at Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS), Patna, receive around ₹30,000 per month.
- Those at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Patna, get approximately ₹32,000 per month.
- By contrast, MBBS interns across 10 state-run medical colleges in Bihar—nearly 1,270 students in total—earn just ₹19,600 monthly.
The disparity becomes even more evident when compared to other states. West Bengal pays ₹43,000 to its interns, while Odisha offers ₹40,000. Neighboring Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh also provide higher stipends than Bihar’s government medical colleges.
The protesting interns argue that such gaps not only demoralize young doctors but also discourage students from pursuing medical careers in Bihar, leading to an outflow of talent to other states.
The Larger Context
Bihar has a total of 2,965 MBBS seats across 22 medical colleges, including 13 government-run institutions (1,615 seats) and nine private colleges (1,350 seats). Despite this significant capacity, the state struggles to retain its young doctors due to low stipends, limited resources, and lack of incentives.
The JDA said it has been raising the issue for over a month. On August 18, the association formally wrote to the state health department and even the health minister. Yet, they claim that their appeals have been met with silence.
“The government’s lack of response is pushing us toward tougher measures,” a JDA spokesperson said. “If the authorities continue to ignore us, closing OPDs may become inevitable. This is not what we want, but our voices must be heard.”
What’s at Stake
If the protests escalate into a shutdown of OPD services, Bihar’s already fragile healthcare system could be thrown into turmoil. Government hospitals handle a majority of the patient load in the state, especially for low-income families who cannot afford private healthcare.
Doctors warn that any disruption in OPD services would force patients to seek treatment in private hospitals, leading to increased costs and inconvenience, especially for rural populations. This could deepen the healthcare crisis in Bihar, a state already grappling with doctor shortages and infrastructure gaps.
For the interns, however, the issue is about more than just financial survival. They say the demand for higher stipends is also about professional dignity, parity with peers, and acknowledgment of the crucial role interns play in day-to-day healthcare delivery.
Unless the state government takes urgent steps to address the issue, Bihar may be staring at an intensified standoff between its young medicos and the administration—one that could have far-reaching consequences for both healthcare services and the morale of future doctors.
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