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Ahmedabad, September 2025 — Despite clear directives from the National Medical Commission (NMC) and a Supreme Court ruling mandating equal stipends, foreign medical graduates (FMGs) completing internships in Gujarat government medical colleges have not received their stipulated 12-month internship stipend. The Gujarat Medical Education and Research Department’s recent decision to withhold stipends from FMGs has provoked widespread backlash from medical graduates and advocacy groups, raising concerns of fairness and equal treatment in medical training.
The Crisis:
Foreign medical graduates who joined internship programs in Gujarat in 2024 were promised stipends equivalent to those received by Indian medical graduates. Despite completing their internships this year, these FMGs have reportedly received no payments for the entire duration of their mandatory training. Their appeals for equal stipends have so far been rejected following a departmental meeting in Gandhinagar, where a formal stance of non-payment to FMG interns was taken.
This issue gained attention when an FMG intern lodged a formal grievance on May 31, 2025, through the Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS), citing the denial. The complainant highlighted that foreign graduates pay much higher registration fees (around Rs 27,000) compared to their Indian peers (around Rs 5,000), yet remain unpaid despite performing identical duties.
Key Findings and Official Position
The NMC issued a circular on March 4, 2022, instructing that no fees should be charged to FMGs for their internship placements and that stipends and other benefits should be universally equal between FMGs and Indian medical graduates. Furthermore, the Supreme Court of India has adjudicated in favor of FMGs receiving stipends on par with their Indian counterparts, reinforcing the regulatory mandate.
Contravening these directives, the Gujarat Medical Education Department declared after a high-level meeting that stipends cannot be granted to FMG interns, a decision that many view as discriminatory and a violation of fundamental rights.
Dr. Lakshya Mittal, Chairperson and National President of the United Doctors Front Association (UDF), condemned the decision, calling it “very unfortunate” and highlighting the injustice faced by FMGs. He stressed that FMGs contribute equally to healthcare delivery and deserve fair compensation. The UDF is reportedly considering legal action to contest the denial.
Background and Context
FMGs are medical graduates who have earned their degree from medical colleges outside India but seek to practice in India by completing the mandatory one-year internship regulated by Indian authorities. These interns fulfill critical roles in healthcare institutions, often under the same conditions and responsibilities as locally trained Indian medical graduates.
The withholding of stipends threatens to demoralize FMGs and may discourage talented foreign graduates from contributing to India’s medical workforce, an important consideration given the country’s ongoing demand for healthcare professionals.
Public Health Implications
The stipend is not merely financial compensation; it represents recognition of the trainees’ labor and is essential for supporting interns during a rigorous training period. Denying FMGs this stipend may lead to financial hardships and potentially undermine the quality and availability of internship training in government hospitals—facilities where FMGs often serve marginalized or high-need populations.
Ensuring fair treatment for all interns regardless of origin promotes equity in medical education and strengthens the health system’s ability to nurture competent healthcare providers, which is critical for public health at large.
Experts’ Perspectives
Health policy analysts emphasize that equitable treatment of FMGs aligns with global best practices to support the integration of internationally trained doctors. Dr. Pooja Shah, a public health expert unaffiliated with the case, notes, “Excluding FMGs from stipends despite legal mandates risks perpetuating inequity and may contravene international labor standards applicable to healthcare training.”
Legal experts point out that adherence to Supreme Court rulings and regulatory directives is binding, and failure to comply might entail judicial consequences for the state authorities.
Limitations and Counterarguments
The Gujarat Medical Education Department has not publicly detailed the administrative or financial rationale behind withholding stipends from FMGs, leaving space for speculation. Some may argue budgetary constraints or bureaucratic interpretations as reasons, but these have not been substantiated openly.
Critics note that ignoring the NMC and Supreme Court’s clear instructions raises questions about governance and accountability in medical education administration.
What This Means for Readers
For medical students and prospective interns, the Gujarat case serves as an important alert about the challenges FMGs may face regarding financial and institutional support. The controversy highlights the need for transparency and adherence to legal mandates in medical training.
For healthcare leaders, this incident underscores the necessity of ensuring fair practices that honor the contributions of all medical interns to strengthen the healthcare system’s future.
Medical Disclaimer
Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals before making any health-related decisions or changes to your treatment plan. The information presented here is based on current research and expert opinions, which may evolve as new evidence emerges.
References
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National Medical Commission Circular, March 4, 2022. Directive on stipend and fees for Foreign Medical Graduates doing internship in India.
- https://medicaldialogues.in/news/education/stipend-cannot-be-given-to-fmg-interns-says-gujarat-medical-education-dept-draws-backlash-155435
