Intern doctors at GMCH start agitation demanding stipend of Rs 50,000

Aurangabad, May 5:

The intern doctors at the government medical college and hospital (GMCH) on Wednesday started agitation for stipend of Rs 50,000 and other demands and refused to join covid ward duty.

A total of 144 intern doctors have been posted in the GMCH since Wednesday. They are paid an honorarium of Rs 11,000. But as the honorarium was very low, the intern doctors started agitation from 10 am. The doctor said that the Mumbai municipal corporation paid Rs 50,000 per month to the intern doctors. This additional corona allowance was given along with a scholarship of Rs 11,000. On the same grounds, the intern doctors in the GMCH must be paid an honorarium of Rs 50,000. In addition, an insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh should be provided to the intern doctors and arrangements should be made for them to quarantine after covid duty. The doctors also demanded that the government should take responsibility for the treatment of the sick doctors.

Demand by senior interns

There had been a similar demand made from senior intern doctors for the past year. The newly-appointed intern doctor said that they will not join duty until a written assurance is received. The contribution of intern doctors in patient care during the corona period is significant. But due to the agitation, about 144 intern doctors did not join duty till evening.