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The Hindu
26-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Foreign medical graduates working in Telangana demand equal pay and recognition
Hundreds of Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) working as interns/house surgeons across Telangana's government and private hospitals have raised concerns over persistent disparities in stipend, recognition and working conditions, despite shouldering equal responsibilities as their Indian-trained counterparts. The Telangana Junior Doctors Association (T-JUDA), in a formal representation submitted to the Director of Medical Education (DME), has called for urgent intervention to address what they term as 'systemic discrimination' against FMG house surgeons. The representation, made on behalf of FMG interns deployed across 34 government hospitals and several private institutions in the State, highlights how these medicos, who cleared the mandatory Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE), are being pushed to the margins despite their contribution to the State's healthcare system. 'Once certified, we are allotted internships by the Telangana Medical Council (TGMC) based strictly on merit. We are posted in district hospitals, teaching institutions, and tertiary care centres where we carry out full clinical duties, including emergency care, ward management, and documentation. Yet, we are paid a stipend of ₹5,000 per month, the lowest among all medical interns in the State, and in several cases, even this amount is delayed for months or not disbursed at all,' said a FMG intern posted at a district hospital. 'This is far below the salary paid even to Class IV employees in hospitals. The disparity is not just financial but that of neglecting FMGs despite their service,' the intern added. A Government Order (GO) issued by the Telangana government in 2023 mandated a monthly stipend of ₹25,906 for MBBS interns working in both government and private medical colleges. This amount was revised to ₹29,792 through an updated GO issued on June 28, 2025. Dr. Issac Newton, President of T-JUDA pointed out that FMG interns are routinely deployed to manage critical responsibilities due to staff shortages. In some hospitals, they are expected to function at the level of Casualty Medical Officers (CMOs), handling emergency rooms and night shifts. 'They do equal work, but there is no equal recognition or pay,' he added. Another intern said 'Most FMGs, now in their late twenties, face financial and emotional stress. Many have taken large education loans to study abroad and return home with the hope of serving the public. The uncertainty and irregularity in stipends are adding to their mental strain, affecting both morale and performance.' Calling for urgent redressal, JUDA placed three specific demands before the DME. These include immediate inclusion of FMG interns under the revised house surgeon stipend structure, timely and equal disbursement of stipends across all government and private hospitals and formal recognition of FMGs as equal contributors to the healthcare workforce, in line with National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines.
Hans India
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
PROTESTS OVER Denial of stipends: Jr docs condemn police high-handedness
Hyderabad: The Telangana Junior Doctors Association (T-JUDA) on Friday vehemently condemned the alleged high-handedness of the police against junior doctors protesting the denial of stipends at a private medical college in Karimnagar. The association demanded that the government take action against the college management and compel the police to issue a public apology to the doctors. Addressing a press conference, T-JUDA representatives protested against the police's actions and the conduct of private medical college managements. Dr Ajay Kumar, T-JUDA General Secretary, stated that on Doctors' Day, junior doctors were conducting a peaceful protest at Chelmeda Anand Rao Institute of Medical Sciences, ensuring clear passage for emergency vehicles. He alleged that police personnel present at the scene mistreated the peacefully protesting students, even resorting to raising lathis. Furthermore, Dr Kumar claimed that college management personnel also threatened the doctors with suspension. The JUDA members asserted that stipend money was their rightful due, yet it was either not being credited or, if credited, was significantly below the norms stipulated by the National Medical Commission. 'This is not just an isolated incident concerning stipends in one college; all private medical colleges are adopting the same approach. It shows as credited but is not received by the students,' explained the T-JUDA General Secretary. The JUDAs announced their intention to present their grievances to the government, the National Medical Commission (NMC), and the University regarding both the stipend issue and the alleged police high-handedness. 'We demand the police should publicly apologise to the students. There should be a formal apology and there should be action against the management by the government,' Dr Ajay Kumar reiterated. Dr J Isaac Newton, T-JUDA President, further alleged that the college management summoned students and subjected them to harassment with abusive and degrading language, issued threats, and initiated disciplinary actions, including suspensions. These actions, he stated, caused deep emotional distress among the students. The college management has also issued a diktat to students who participated in the strike. They have been asked to release a selfie video stating, 'I have not given any information to any party for the press release and this is an internal matter between us and the management and no one has the right to interfere in the matter.'Dr Newton added that the college management reportedly threatened students by claiming they would obstruct their future careers, boasting of 'high contacts in society' and asserting that 'no one can do anything to them.' Dr Newton condemned these as 'intimidating and unacceptable statements' that reflect 'a dangerous abuse of power and a clear attempt to silence and oppress students who are merely fighting for their rights.' The T-JUDA members have called upon the Chief Minister and the Health Minister to take swift and decisive action and demanded the immediate revocation of all student suspensions issued by the college management.
The Hindu
29-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
T-JUDA, T-SRDA call off strike after meeting Health Minister
The Telangana Junior Doctors' Association (T-JUDA) and the Telangana Senior Resident Doctors' Association (TSRDA) have called off their proposed state-wide strike that was scheduled to begin on June 30 and July 1. The decision was taken after representatives from both the associations met Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha at his office in Sangareddy on Sunday. In an official statement, both the associations extended their gratitude to the government for taking prompt and positive action on key issues affecting junior doctors, senior residents, and contract faculty working across government medical colleges, in the State. The government has approved a hike in stipends, a crucial issue that has been at the heart of the associations' negotiations. It has also issued the Budget Release Order (BRO) required for the regular disbursal of stipends to house surgeons and postgraduate students. Additionally, the extension of contracts for senior residents, a key concern raised by TSRDA, has been confirmed, along with the continuation of services for Government Contract Assistant Professors whose terms were nearing expiration, they said.
Hans India
28-06-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Jr doctors warn of indefinite strike if demands are not met by Monday
Hyderabad: Junior doctors from the state have threatened to go on an indefinite strike from June 30 if their long-pending demands are not resolved immediately. Towards this, the Telangana Junior Doctors Association (T-JUDA) has written to Health Minister C Damodar Raja Narsimha on Friday reminding about their demands, which the government had assured to resolve on a priority basis. The decision to go on a strike comes after two meetings with the Health Minister this month have proved to be futile exercises. Their demands include timely release of stipends, implementation of GO Ms No 59 enhancing the stipend amount and ensuring adequate infrastructure in government medical colleges. The TJUDA, representing junior doctors from all 34 Government Medical Colleges across the state, stated that they have been consistently bringing to the notice of the Health Minister and Health Secretary the severe challenges faced by the junior doctors. Association president Dr J Isac Newton pointed out that they had submitted umpteen representations regarding their plight since last November. The doctors lamented that they are struggling to cope up with a dearth of infrastructure and basic facilities in medical colleges, while faculty shortfall was affecting both UG and PG courses. They pointed out that even private medical colleges were erratic in the release of stipends. They also highlighted the anguish caused due to delay in scholarship and fee reimbursement for minority, SC, ST and BC students. The junior doctors, who form the backbone of the state's government hospitals, continue to work under immense physical and mental strain, often for more than 36 hours at a stretch, said Dr Newton. 'We demand a GO and a Finance Department Circular mandating the release of stipends by the 10th of every month through a 'green channel' mechanism. We demand immediate implementation of the revised stipend structure and disbursement of all arrears from January onwards,' the association members said. The doctors also said that many colleges still lack basic facilities such as incomplete or unopened buildings (Nagarkurnool, Siddipet) and lack of water and transportation facilities (Bhadrachalam-Kothagudem). Student representatives must be mandatorily included in all infrastructure review committees to understand the ground realities. The acute shortage of clinical and para-clinical faculty is adversely impacting academic quality and hands-on training. The doctors demanded publication of a regular, annual recruitment calendar and filling up posts immediately to meet NMC norms.
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
IMA Telangana opposes proposed integrated MBBS-BAMS course
Hyderabad: The Central govt's announcement to introduce an integrated medical course combining MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) and BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, has evoked strong criticism from the medical fraternity in Telangana. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The idea of the course stems from the National Medical Commission's (NMC) move of introducing modules on AYUSH to promote the integration of modern medicine with homoeopathy and Ayurveda. Typically, it takes five and a half years to complete the MBBS course, including a year of mandatory internship. Dr Dwarkanath Reddy, president, IMA Telangana, said that the integrated course could compromise the rigorous standards of modern medical education as it not only threatens modern medicine but also risks damaging Ayurveda by weakening its core principles. "We recognise the importance of Ayurveda, but mixing it with medicine will not benefit either field as it does not align with the principles of modern medicine. Will a patient be given ayurvedic medicine after a medical surgery? Patients will be the ultimate losers this way as it strips them of their freedom to choose a preferred system of care," he said. Earlier, the Telangana Junior Doctors Association (T-JUDA) called the announcement a "regressive and unscientific move," stating that it sees no public health benefit in the govt's push for "mixopathy," a term coined for the integrated course. Dr J Isaac Newton, president, T-JUDA, said that the new course risks producing inadequately trained practitioners, who can also be called "qualified quacks." "This is because they will lack expertise in either of the two disciplines. We should take the example of China, whose attempt to blend modern medicine with traditional Chinese medicine failed miserably and led to the weakening of its own indigenous system. " Doctors also appealed to practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine to unite in opposing the new policy for the benefit of both doctors and patients.
