'Healers shouldn’t get Chillar': Bihar MBBS interns' strike for stipend hike continues

NEW DELHI: MBBS interns in Bihar government-run medical colleges have been protesting for the last three days demanding a hike in their monthly stipend from Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000. Out-patient department (OPD) services in several Bihar medical colleges were also affected due to the indefinite strike.

On the ongoing strike by the MBBS interns, the state health department, Government of Bihar, said, “As per the information received from various media reports and heads of medical colleges, it has been learnt that the interns have been protesting without prior notice, which has affected the hospital services in the state.”

Acknowledging that the OPD services have beeñ affected, the health department has issued following orders to medical colleges.

• Check the physical presence of interns of all departments.
• Deduct the stipend of interns on the principle of "No Work No Pay". Increase the internship period on the basis of boycott of work.
• Take action against those interns who are interrupting OPD, emergency services
• Hold a meeting of disciplinary committee of the college and take a decision on this issue
• Provide the details of OPD and emergency services everyday at 4PM.

Also read | MBBS Internship: Medical students have mixed feelings about NMC’s ban on ‘externships’

#raise_bihar_mbbs_intern_stipend trends

Meanwhile, students have been tagging Bihar deputy chief minister Tejaswi Yadav who is also the health minister of the state, and voiced their demand. #raise_bihar_mbbs_intern_stipend is trending on Twitter.

Protesting against the meager salary of Rs 15,000 per month, which is Rs 500 per day, a medical student said, “The current stipend (Rs 500/day) is even less than that of a daily wage worker. We demand an increment.”

There is strike going on for last 3 days to increase stipend of Intern doctors in Bihar. The current stipend (₹500/day) is even less than that of a daily wage worker. We demand it's increment.#raise_bihar_mbbs_intern_stipend

— Dr. Azim Quadri (@azim_quadri) August 25, 2022

Another MBBS intern wrote, “We served in covid. Our session got late too. At least this demand of ours should be fulfilled.”

We served in covid. Our session got late too. At least this demand of ours should be fulfilled.@yadavtejashwi @NitishKumar @RJDforIndia #raise_bihar_mbbs_intern_stipend pic.twitter.com/evAp7RyKqU

— Dr K.D. (@DrKumarDewant) August 25, 2022

“Kaam hamara jyada h, stipend fir bhi aadha hai. We MBBS intern doctors want immediate raise in our stipend,” another student wrote on Twitter.

Kaam hamara jyada h, stipend fir bhi aadha hai.
We MBBS intern doctors want immediate raise in our stipend.#raise_bihar_mbbs_intern_stipend@yadavtejashwi@officecmbihar @NitishKumar @BiharHealthDept @PratyayaIAS @TOIPatna @ravishndtv #raise_bihar_mbbs_intern_stipend pic.twitter.com/u2itzVUihZ

— ANKIT (@medico_ankit) August 25, 2022

“No No ,we are not labour. We are not begging from you,we are just demanding that what we actually need. We demand raise in our stipend.”

No No ,we are not labour. We are not begging from you,we are just demanding that what we actually need.
We demand raise in our stipend.#raise_bihar_mbbs_intern_stipend@yadavtejashwi@officecmbihar@BiharHealthDept@SHSBihar@PratyayaIAS@NitishKumar@ravishndtv@TOIPatna pic.twitter.com/MH9s7nU0zj

— Nikhil Chandra (@Chandranikhil27) August 25, 2022

Another intern shared a video and said, “Only way left for intern doctors to survive.”

Only way left for intern doctors to survive#raise_bihar_mbbs_intern_stipend@yadavtejashwi@officecmbihar @NitishKumar @BiharHealthDept @PratyayaIAS @TOIPatna @ravishndtv pic.twitter.com/RHrOf1gAIA

— amir ansari (@amirans99455050) August 25, 2022