In a recent ruling, a two-judge bench has mandated equal stipends for both Indian and foreign medical graduates. The National Medical Commission (NMC) has been tasked with providing detailed information on stipend payments and issuing warnings to non-compliant colleges. The Supreme Court of India emphasized that foreign medical graduates should not face discrimination and must receive equal stipends during their internships in India. The bench also highlighted the need for a shift in the current perception of foreign medical graduates in the country.
This issue was brought to light following complaints from a group of doctors regarding certain medical colleges not providing stipends to foreign medical graduates during their internships. The bench asserted the principle of equal payment of stipend for Indian and foreign medical students during internships and directed the NMC to take appropriate action on stipend disbursements.
Specifically, the bench called for audits of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Medical College in Vidisha, Employees State Insurance Corporation Medical College (ESIC) in Alwar , and Dr Laxminarayan Pandey Government Medical College in Ratlam.
The bench underscored the importance of equal stipend payments and warned of strict consequences for non-compliance with the ruling.
“The medical colleges cannot discriminate between MBBS and foreign medical graduates,” the bench stated, urging the NMC and medical colleges to address this matter promptly.
Additionally, the court directed the NMC and relevant authorities to ensure that all students receive stipends for the entirety of their internship periods. This directive particularly concerns students currently undergoing internships at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Medical College in Vidisha, as reported by various media outlets.
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