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Ahmedabad, Gujarat – Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) undergoing internships in Gujarat are alleging systemic exploitation, claiming they are being denied their rightful stipends despite a clear Supreme Court order mandating equal pay with Indian Medical Graduates (IMGs). The interns assert that the Gujarat Medical Council (GMC) is flouting the apex court’s directive, leaving them financially strained and overburdened.
The All FMGs Association (AFA) brought the issue to public attention via social media platform X, highlighting the GMC’s alleged disregard for the National Medical Commission (NMC) directive regarding FMG stipend payments. They further accused the council of imposing an unauthorized fee of Rs 1 lakh on non-domicile interns.
Dr. Dushyant Barot, National Vice-President of Internal Affairs at All India Medical Students Association – Foreign Medical Students Wing (AIMSA-FMSW), stated, “Despite multiple meetings with the GMC, no stipend is being provided. A few colleges briefly paid interns but then stopped. We have approached the council, but there has been no action. We are trying to meet authorities and pressurise them so that students don’t suffer, yet FMGs keep struggling — not just in Gujarat, but across India.”
An anonymous FMG intern from Gujarat detailed alleged financial manipulation, claiming that some institutions show inflated salaries on paper, only to force interns to return a portion, effectively reducing their actual earnings. “The workload we handle is equal to that of Indian Medical Graduates (IMGs), yet we are not compensated fairly,” the intern stated. They also alleged that raising concerns often leads to bureaucratic hurdles.
Interns further allege systemic discrimination, claiming they are frequently assigned extra shifts without support, while IMG interns are allegedly favored in duty schedules. “Hospital administrations manipulate duty schedules to favour IMGs, increasing the burden on FMG interns,” the intern alleged.
Dr. Anushka, another FMG intern, echoed these concerns, stating, “Initially, we were told that we would receive Rs 18,500, but that has not been the reality. Now, we are left in a situation where we don’t know if we will get anything at all. The discrimination is clear — IMGs have a proper portal to receive their stipends, but for FMGs, there is always some excuse or delay.”
Interns claim that repeated attempts to escalate the issue to political and administrative bodies, including the Gujarat Chief Minister and the Education Ministry, have yielded no tangible results. They further allege that institutions are delaying the release of completion certificates, hindering their ability to protest effectively.
“If Supreme Court rulings are being disregarded, where else can we seek justice?” the anonymous intern asked. They expressed frustration over “empty promises” and a feeling of being “stuck in a system where authorities make empty promises while our concerns remain unheard.”
Disclaimer: This news article is based on information provided by the FMG interns and the All FMGs Association. The allegations made have not been independently verified. The Gujarat Medical Council and other relevant authorities have not yet responded to requests for comment. Further investigation is needed to determine the veracity of these claims.
