Medical interns in UP being paid less than the informal sector employees despite ongoing Global Health Emergency

Uttar Pradesh: At a time when the world is applauding healthcare workers for their resilience and commitment to saving lives amidst a global health emergency, the government hospitals in the state of Uttar Pradesh have invoked a feeling of dissatisfaction and disappointment amongst their medical interns by paying a meager stipend to them.

The students are being paid just Rs. 250 / day which is even less than the amount paid to the people employed in the informal sector and also less than the amount that the government hospitals in most of the other states are paying to their medical interns.

The central government hospitals are also paying a much higher amount of Rs. 23,500 per month to their medical interns.

“10 years back the stipend was increased from Rs. 1900 to Rs. 7500 and since then there has been no increment in the stipend,” an intern said in a video, demanding increased stipend from the Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister.

The stipend dispute adds to the misery of healthcare interns in the state who are alredy stressed due to the lack of personal protective equipments.

“There aren’t enough PPE kits to distribute to everybody from every department or speciality. At least those who are posted at the COVID-19 wards or treating COVID-19 patients should get enough PPE,” said a senior Doctor working at a hospital in Uttar Pradesh in an interview given to MyUpchar.

The stipend issue of medical interns have been in the news lately, with interns from Chandigarh and Patiala also demanding a hike in their stipend.