Terna Medical College in Navi Mumbai accused of not paying MBBS interns Rs 18,000 stipend

Allegations have surfaced that MBBS interns at Terna Medical College in Navi Mumbai are not being paid their stipend. It is alleged that eligible interns are not getting the Rs 18,000 a month they should receive. This raises questions about compliance with Maharashtra's rules and the accountability of private medical institutions.

After the MBBS course, every medical student must complete a one-year internship. The internship is compulsory, and interns perform clinical duties as training. Working under supervision, they fulfil the requirements of their degree. The stipend structure exists so that eligible interns receive the amount fixed by the competent authority.

The Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER), Maharashtra, issued a circular on July 10, 2024. It told the state's private medical colleges to pay eligible MBBS interns a stipend of Rs 18,000 a month. The circular cited the National Medical Commission (NMC) rules in force and a Maharashtra government resolution of February 27, 2024.

Under the NMC's Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship Regulations, 2021, interns must receive the stipend fixed by the institution, university or the fee-fixing authority applicable to the state. In February 2024, the Maharashtra government raised the monthly stipend for interns at government medical colleges from Rs 11,000 to Rs 18,000. Through its July circular, DMER then applied the same Rs 18,000 requirement to private colleges. The circular also asked colleges to submit details of the stipend they are paying. This gives the authority a basis to check whether institutions are following the rules.

In Terna's case, the real question is whether the college is paying its eligible interns the applicable stipend. To establish how much stipend was withheld, the students' payment records, internship details and the college's official response are needed.

On the amount, if the batch of 100 students mentioned is made up entirely of eligible interns, the figure is large. At Rs 18,000 per intern, the total monthly cost would be Rs 18 lakh. Over 12 months, the annual liability comes to Rs 2.16 crore. This calculation rests on the stated batch size and the monthly rate. It is not proof that the college withheld Rs 2.16 crore or diverted it elsewhere. Students of Terna, speaking on condition of anonymity, said 100 students in all are eligible for the internship.

The matter is not only about money. The questions are also whether the applicable rules are being followed, and whether students completing the mandatory clinical training are getting the stipend they are entitled to.

Attempts were made to reach the dean of Terna Medical College, Dr Sunil Petkar, to get the college's side. Repeated calls and messages over more than 48 hours drew no response. Comment was also sought from Medical Education Minister and NCP leader Hasan Mushrif. His spokesperson said the minister will take cognisance of the matter, look into it himself and have it investigated.

The college's response is still awaited. It has not given any reason for the alleged non-payment of the stipend, and if there is a reason, it is not clear.

The question of action also arises. The authorities will first have to examine the interns' eligibility, the payment records and the complaints received before it can be decided whether Terna broke the rules. If a violation is established, the authorities concerned may consider action under the provisions governing medical education and stipend payment. For students, this is a matter of financial support as well as of enforcement of the rules on the compulsory internship. If the college clearly states its stipend policy and payment records, the questions raised may get answers.