Medical interns end protests following stipend increases in India

Medical interns in Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand have ended their protests following government decisions to increase monthly stipends.

In Madhya Pradesh, interns called off a three-day sit-in after the state government announced a 50 percent increase, raising the monthly stipend from Rs 14,337 to approximately Rs 21,500. The decision followed a meeting between government officials and representatives from the Junior Doctors Association (JUDA) and the Medical Teachers Association (MTA). Additionally, the government removed two police officers involved in a recent incident where water cannons and lathi-charges were used against protesters.

In Uttarakhand, intern doctors at Government Doon Medical College (GDMC) Hospital withdrew from their round-the-clock protest after the cabinet approved a stipend increase to Rs 25,000 per month. While the interns ended their agitation, postgraduate (PG) doctors at the same facility continued their protest, demanding that their stipends be raised from Rs 69,000 to Rs 1,25,000.