On Aug 31, the government of Gujarat increased the stipends for medical interns and resident doctors by 20%.
However, the resident doctors from B J Medical College will go on strike starting Sept 2, demanding a 40% strike instead of 20%, which has been a norm since 2009.
According to the hike from the government, the medical interns in government medical colleges will receive ₹21,840, dental interns ₹20,160, physiotherapy interns ₹13,440, and Ayurveda and Homeopathy interns ₹15,120 as their stipend, at 20% hike.
Moreover, the stipend increase is now set to occur every 5 years instead of every 3 years, which has led to dissatisfaction among interns and resident doctors.
In protest of this, the resident doctors will begin their strike on Sept 2. During this period, emergency services will remain operational.
Shashank Ashara, vice president of the Junior Doctors Association, stated that they had made 25 representations to the state government, but their demands were not accepted.
He said that they won’t halt emergency services and cause inconvenience to patients, but their demands have not been met for a long time, which is why they are protesting.
More than 1,200 resident doctors from B J Medical College and over 3,500 resident doctors from Gujarat, along with more than 3,000 intern doctors, will be on strike.
The stipend rates for interns in undergraduate programmes and resident doctors in postgraduate and super speciality programmes at six government and 13 GMERS (Gujarat Medical Education and Research Society) managed medical colleges in the state have been increased.
Medical residents pursuing degrees will receive ₹1,00,800 in the first year, ₹1,02,480 in the second year, ₹1,05,000 in the third year, and ₹1,10,880 in the fourth year (senior resident) and as clinical assistants.
Super specialty medical residents will receive ₹1,20,960 in the first year, ₹1,26,000 in the second year, and ₹1,34,400 in the third year. Dental residents (degree) will receive ₹78,960 in the first year, ₹81,480 in the second year, and ₹83,496 in the third year. Physiotherapy (degree) residents will receive ₹35,280 in the first year and ₹43,680 in the second year.
Medical residents pursuing a diploma will receive ₹75,600 in the first year and ₹82,320 in the second year as their stipend. Ayurveda PG residents will receive ₹50,400 in the first year, ₹53,760 in the second year, and ₹57,120 in the third year.
Moreover, interns in undergraduate programmes at GMERS-managed medical colleges will receive ₹21,840, junior residents ₹1,00,800, and senior residents ₹1,10,880.
Junior and senior residents in postgraduate programmes at GMERS-managed medical colleges will receive ₹1,00,800 in the first year, ₹1,02,480 in the second year, and ₹1,05,000 in the third year, with senior residents and clinical assistants receiving ₹1,10,880 in the fourth year.
This stipend increase has been implemented by the state government from Apr 1, 2024.