Sabarmati: Amid little bit easing pandemic situation, intern doctors in government hospitals in Gujarat – around 2,000 in total – are on strike starting from today, seeking increase in their monthly stipend from the present Rs 12,800 per month to Rs 20,000. The doctors on strike staged demonstration for media at various medical colleges including BJ medical college in Ahmedabad.

Meanwhile reacting to this, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, who is also Health minister of state said, it is mandatory for intern medical students to complete their internship post MBBS. The students are given certificate for medical practice at the end of internship period. A student can’t become doctor without completion of internship period. Those interns who are on strike at present will be considered absent and their presence will not be counted.

He said, ‘I have instructed deans and medical superintendents that those interns who don’t attend the work must be considered absent. Those with absence who don’t complete prescribed internship period will not be able to enter Post Graduate courses and also will not be able to get registration as doctor. The government runs hospital, the government makes all arrangements, the govt offers them education and over and above, the government also give them stipend. Everyone has right to make representations but to go for one-sided agitation instead of serving covid and other patients in such difficult time can not be accepted. They had to withdraw their strike unconditionally, or otherwise it’s their own loss.’

Nitin Patel said, ‘internship for continuous period of 9 months is mandatory as per the rules. The students had come to meet me over their demand. I had asked them that to have patience, as the government is already occupied in various tasks. If some medical college students after completing their MBBS in college abroad come to Gujarat and wish for internship here, the Gujarat government collects Rs. 1 lakh fee from them. We permit them to do internship after taking Rs. 1 lakh fee. On one hand, the government gives stipend of monthly Rs. 12,000 and offers boarding facility to interns here and on the other hand those Gujarati boys and girls who are educated MBBS in foreign medical college pay Rs. 1 lakh to Gujarat govt. If interns wrongly pressurize the government, it’s unacceptable. Pressurizing the government and taking benefit of difficult situation with government and patients, will not be allowed. If they don’t withdraw their strike unconditionally and don’t rejoin their duty, their presence will not be counted.’