J&K Doubles Medical Interns’ Stipend to Rs 25,000 a Month

On Tuesday, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah asked the department to issue the order immediately. The interns called off their hunger strike that evening, and the formal order came through on Wednesday.

Why Interns Were Protesting

The interns said their stipend had not changed since 2019, even though the cost of living had gone up sharply. Senior government doctors also backed their demand.

Who Are Medical Interns?

After finishing their medical or dental degree, students must complete a compulsory one-year rotating internship before they can get full registration to practise independently. During this year, they work under the supervision of senior doctors.

Interns rotate through key departments such as Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Emergency or Community Medicine. Their daily work includes:

• Examining patients and taking medical histories
• Monitoring vital signs and writing progress notes
• Drawing blood, inserting IV lines and dressing wounds under guidance
• Preparing lab and imaging requests
• Covering night and weekend shifts in wards and emergency rooms

The Backbone of Hospital Care

In J&K, interns play a big role in healthcare delivery. They work in emergencies, OPDs and operation theatres, and look after admitted patients across the Union Territory. In many hospitals, they are the first doctors patients meet.

Why It Matters

A stipend of Rs 12,300 for full-time, often round-the-clock hospital work was widely seen as too low. Doubling it recognises the real workload of interns and could reduce financial stress for young doctors, many of whom are away from home. Including FMGs also ensures that doctors trained abroad, who do their internships in India, are treated fairly.

The Bigger Picture

Stipends for medical interns vary widely across Indian states, and protests over low pay are common. J&K’s decision could add pressure on other states and UTs to review their own stipend levels.

What Comes Next

Interns will now watch for timely payment of the revised amount, including arrears from October 1.

With inputs from IANS.