Telangana FMG interns protest and boycott emergency services over stipend
Protests by around 650 Foreign Medical Graduate (FMG) interns working in government hospitals across Telangana entered their fifth day on Monday, as they continued to demand the same stipend as doctors who completed their MBBS degrees in India.
The interns said that while doctors who pursued MBBS in India receive a monthly stipend of Rs 29,792, foreign medical graduates are paid either nothing or a nominal Rs 5,000. They alleged that despite the disparity in payments, they perform the same clinical duties in outpatient departments, hospital wards and emergency services.
The agitation began after the interns submitted formal representations and held a meeting with the Director of Medical Education (DME). Following their withdrawal from routine duties, the interns expanded the boycott to emergency and casualty services, which is scheduled to continue until October 13.
Their demands include an official order granting them the full monthly stipend of Rs 29,792 in accordance with National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines, payment of all pending arrears dating back to January 2026, and protection from punitive action, additional duties or retaliatory attendance measures for doctors participating in the protest.
The interns have warned that if their demands remain unmet, they will stage a protest near the DME office in Koti on October 14.
The Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) is a licensing test that has a reported pass rate ranging from 12% to 20%. After clearing the examination, foreign medical graduates are assigned Compulsory Rotatory Medical Internships (CRMI) by the state medical council. They subsequently serve as interns at government hospitals across various districts of the state.
