FMG Interns at ESIC Medical College, Patna Protest Over Five Months of Unpaid Stipends
What happened on campus
Foreign medical graduates (FMGs) undergoing mandatory internship at ESIC Medical College, Patna, staged a protest inside the medical college hospital after not receiving their monthly stipends for the past five months. Approximately 70–80 FMG interns participated in the demonstration, which briefly halted outpatient department (OPD) services. Emergency services were kept operational throughout the protest and remained unaffected.
Duration of non-payment and immediate consequences
The interns report that the stipend arrears have persisted for five months, forcing them to take collective action to press for payment. The temporary closure of OPD services underscores the extent of frustration among trainees who rely on these stipends for living and professional costs while completing their mandatory internships. The protest was organised to draw administrative attention and to demand a timely resolution.
Legal and regulatory background cited by the trainees
The All FMGs Association (AFA), representing the affected interns, highlighted that this situation persists despite prior legal and regulatory directives. The association says there have been clear directions from the High Court, the Supreme Court, and the National Medical Commission (NMC) concerning stipend disbursement for interns in comparable cases. Last year, when a similar dispute arose, a High Court order required ESIC to release stipends and a legal notice was served to the institute. According to the AFA, the problem has re-emerged despite these earlier interventions.
Discrepancy in stipend amounts and institutional positions
Two differing stipend figures are at the centre of the dispute. Under State Government provisions, interns are reportedly entitled to Rs 20,000 per month. ESIC’s own rules, however, prescribe a monthly stipend of Rs 30,070. Following the legal notice in the prior year, ESIC agreed to disburse Rs 20,000 per month to FMG interns—aligning with the State rate rather than the higher ESIC-prescribed amount. The current grievance stems from the non-payment of even that reduced amount over the last five months.
Demands and timeline set by the All FMGs Association
The AFA has formally demanded immediate resolution of the stipend arrears. In communications circulated by the association, the interns have called on ESIC authorities to release all outstanding payments and to regularise the stipend disbursement process. The association has given the institute a seven-day timeline to disburse the full pending amounts to all FMG interns, warning that legal remedies will be pursued again if the issue is not resolved within that period.
Statement from the association representative
Dr Kaushal, representing the All FMGs Association, described the sequence of events in comments to medichelpline. He explained that after the earlier legal notice, ESIC had cited administrative distinctions between its headquarters and the State Government, a factor that led to the Rs 20,000 monthly payment arrangement last year. According to Dr Kaushal, despite repeated reminders from students, stipends have not been paid for the last five months. He reiterated the association’s demand that authorities comply with ESIC rules and ensure the stipulated Rs 30,070 per month is provided, or at minimum, regularise and settle outstanding dues without further delay.
Broader implications for interns and institutional accountability
Unpaid stipends affect trainees’ financial stability, morale and focus during a critical period of medical training. Apart from immediate financial hardship, prolonged delays in remuneration can strain trainee–institution relationships and prompt escalations to legal and regulatory bodies, as seen in this case. The combination of court directives and regulatory oversight cited by the AFA signals that the issue has both administrative and legal dimensions requiring coordinated action by the institute and relevant authorities.
Next steps and monitoring
The AFA has indicated readiness to pursue further legal action if stipends are not released within the stipulated seven-day window. Given the past involvement of higher judiciary and regulatory authorities, any renewed legal proceedings could again draw formal orders or interventions. medichelpline will monitor developments and report on any official responses from the institute or relevant government departments, as well as on whether the stipend arrears are cleared and normal OPD services resume without disruption.