GMSH Interns in Chandigarh Face 18-Month Stipend Delay, Citing Administrative Apathy
More than 120 Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) completing their internships at the Government Multi-Speciality Hospital (GMSH) in Sector 16, Chandigarh, have been left without stipends for nearly one-and-a-half years, highlighting significant administrative failures. This prolonged delay has sparked outrage among the medical interns, who rely on these payments for their livelihoods during their mandatory training period.
Historical Precedent and Current Batch Struggles
Representations submitted to the Governor’s Office and the Health Secretariat reveal that a previous batch of 70–80 FMG interns finished their entire internship at GMSH-16 without receiving any stipend and have since departed. The current cohort, comprising around 50 FMGs who commenced their training in July 2024 and are nearing completion, similarly awaits payment, exacerbating financial distress.
Interns emphasize that stipends at other government medical institutions in Chandigarh, such as GMCH-32, are standardized at approximately Rs 30,070 per month. However, this parity has not been extended to FMGs at GMSH-16, despite repeated assurances from authorities. The pending dues amount to roughly Rs 3.6 lakh annually per intern, creating acute hardship for those providing essential healthcare services.
Legal Mandates and Unresolved Issues
The interns have referenced National Medical Commission (NMC) notifications from November 18, 2021, and December 11, 2023, along with Supreme Court judgments, which mandate stipend parity for FMGs during internships. They note that FMGs in civil hospitals and medical institutions across Punjab are already receiving stipends in accordance with these norms, underscoring the inconsistency at GMSH.
Sources indicate that a proposal seeking Rs 3–3.5 crore to clear the pending dues has been submitted but remains unapproved. The file, numbered 590761, has reportedly been circulating among key departments—including the Directorate of Health Services (DHS), Directorate of Medical Services (DMS), and the Medical Superintendent’s office—for over 18 months without a definitive resolution.
Administrative Response and Ongoing Delays
In response to the escalating issue, Director Health Services Suman Singh attributed the delay to revisions in NMC norms that occurred shortly before the interns joined in 2024. She stated that funds have been requested and the matter is under process, pending administrative and inter-departmental clearances. However, interns express frustration over the lack of tangible progress.
The interns have highlighted their continuous provision of round-the-clock healthcare services across various departments since July 2024 without financial support. In their representation, they urgently called for authorities to release the pending stipends within two weeks, stressing the need for immediate action to address this prolonged injustice.
