Medical Interns call off strike after assurance on stipend revision

Medicos resume duties after written assurance

Northlines Correspondent

Jammu Tawi, Sep 08: The MBBS and BDS interns across Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday called off their strike and resumed duties after the government gave a written assurance that their long-pending demand for enhancement of stipend would be resolved within one month.

The decision came after a delegation of protesting intern doctors met Health and Metdical Education Minister Sakina Masood Itoo in Srinagar on Tuesday. Following the meeting and the government’s written commitment, the interns decided to suspend their agitation and return to duties.

The interns had launched the protest after repeatedly raising the issue of stipend enhancement with the authorities and expressing dissatisfaction over prolonged inaction. The agitation gradually gained momentum, with interns from medical and dental colleges across Jammu and Kashmir joining the protest under a common platform.

The protesting interns are demanding enhancement of their monthly stipend to Rs 30,000, maintaining that the existing amount is inadequate considering the nature of their internship, working hours, responsibilities and contribution to patient care.

Although internship is part of their compulsory professional training, the interns perform important clinical duties in hospitals, including assisting in patient management, attending wards and emergency services and supporting healthcare teams under supervision.

A major point of contention during the agitation was the absence of a formal and time-bound commitment from the government. The interns had maintained that verbal assurances were insufficient and sought a concrete roadmap for resolving the issue.

During an earlier interaction, the Health Minister had sought time to resolve the matter, but the interns insisted on a definite timeline. Several rounds of discussions failed to yield a final decision, prompting them to intensify their protest.

However, Tuesday’s meeting resulted in a breakthrough after the government provided a written assurance regarding the timeline for resolving the stipend issue.

According to the minutes/record note of the meeting, a copy of which lies with KNO, the government has assured the interns that the stipend matter will be resolved within one month on the basis of the recommendations of the Stipend Enhancement Committee.

The written commitment became the key factor behind the interns’ decision to call off the strike. However, the assurance does not mean that the demanded Rs 30,000 stipend has been approved immediately. The government has committed to resolving the matter within the stipulated period while considering the committee’s recommendations.

Following the assurance, the interns agreed to return to their respective hospitals and colleges. Their decision also took into account the larger interest of patients, as interns form an important part of the clinical workforce in government hospitals and medical institutions.

The resumption of duties is expected to provide relief to healthcare institutions, where the absence of interns could have placed additional pressure on resident doctors and other healthcare staff.

Despite suspending the strike, the interns maintained that their core demand remains enhancement of the monthly stipend to Rs 30,000. They said they would closely monitor the government’s progress over the coming weeks and expect a formal decision within the committed one-month period.

The interns said they had suspended the agitation in good faith and in view of the written assurance, while expecting the government to honour its commitment in letter and spirit.

For now, the protesting MBBS and BDS interns have returned to their duties.