Uttarakhand govt medical colleges face doctors' strike over stipend hike

Around 600 MBBS interns at four government medical colleges in Uttarakhand have gone on strike, demanding a hike in their monthly stipend from Rs 17,000 to Rs 30,000. Postgraduate (PG) resident doctors have also joined the protest, seeking an increase in their stipend from around Rs 70,000 to Rs 1 lakh per month.The strike has led to delays in patient services at government hospitals, although the administration said arrangements are being made to ensure that patients do not face major inconvenience.The protesting doctors said the current stipend has remained unchanged for several years despite rising living costs and the workload expected from them.Resident doctor Prajeet said the stipend had not been revised since 2017.

He also pointed out that fees at Uttarakhand's government medical colleges are relatively high compared with several other government institutions.PG resident doctor Manu Bisht said resident doctors are required to work night shifts and handle emergency cases in addition to their regular duties." We also have to work night shifts and attend to patients in the emergency department," Bisht said, adding that the doctors had already raised their concerns with the college principal, Dr Geeta Jain, and state minister Dhan Singh Uniyal.

"We hope our demands will be fulfilled." Junior Doctors' Association president Abhijeet Rathi said Uttarakhand, being a hill state, should offer a higher stipend than other states because of the additional challenges faced by doctors working there.He said assurances had previously been given to senior doctors but had not resulted in any concrete action. According to Rathi, junior doctors handle multiple responsibilities, including morning outpatient departments, operation theatre duties and ward inspections.MBBS interns participating in the protest said their demand was justified by the workload they handle across government hospitals."

Wherever you go, whether it is the OPD or elsewhere, you will find interns working," one intern told India Today.A woman intern said the existing stipend was inadequate after accounting for transportation, accommodation and food expenses. She added that many students come to Uttarakhand from other parts of the country and face additional living costs.The protesting undergraduate medical students are also demanding that their stipend be increased from Rs 17,000 to Rs 30,000 a month, citing inflation and rising living expenses.DOCTORS ASSURE EMERGENCY SERVICES WILL CONTINUEWith a large number of junior doctors participating in the protest, concerns have been raised over the impact on patients.The protesting doctors said they had made arrangements to ensure that patients visiting outpatient departments continue to receive treatment.

They also assured that emergency services would not be allowed to suffer because of the strike.The hospital administration has also said it is closely monitoring patient services.Dr Vinamra Mittal, medical superintendent in charge at Doon PG Medical College Hospital, said the doctors' demands had been communicated to the college principal. He said the administration hoped the issue would be resolved soon and had appealed to the doctors to return to work."

We are fully alert to ensure that patients do not face any difficulty," Mittal said.Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand government is preparing a proposal to revise the stipend paid to MBBS interns. The proposed revision could provide a way to resolve the ongoing protest, even as discussions between the doctors and authorities continue.- EndsPublished By: Nitish SinghPublished On: Sep 9, 2026 04:02 IST