FMG interns face police action near TSMC office as hunger strike enters critical phase

FMG interns in Telangana intensified their statewide protest over stipend disparities and pending arrears, with demonstrations entering the 34th day. Protesters alleged police action during the agitation and sought government intervention to ensure stipend parity, clear dues, and protect participants from punitive measures.

Hyderabad: Faced with official apathy from the State government, after over a month of agitations, the statewide protest by Foreign Medical Graduate (FMG) interns continued to escalate with no signs of an end to the impasse.

Tuesday marked the 34th day of the protests and sixth day of the relay hunger strike launched by FMG interns. Tensions prevailed when police personnel arrived at the protest site near the Telangana Medical Council (TSMC) office in Koti and detained the protesting doctors.

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The FMG interns have consistently faced intense pressure from law enforcement authorities, as they continue to participate in the relay hunger strike.

The interns, who are posted in various government teaching hospitals in Telangana, have launched a prolonged battle with the State health department over steep wage disparities. While locally trained MBBS interns draw a monthly stipend of Rs 29,792, FMG interns get paid just Rs 5,000 per month despite carrying identical clinical workloads.

In addition to demanding immediate stipend parity, the protesting graduates are pressing for the clearance of all pending stipend arrears accrued since January 2026. They are also demanding foolproof guarantees that they will be shielded from disciplinary action or arbitrary internship extensions, once the protests are called off.

Medical associations and student bodies including TJUDA have strongly condemned the government’s continued indifference and the recurring police crackdowns on peaceful protesters.

The medical fraternity including medicos, resident PG doctors and senior doctors, have made an urgent appeal to the State administration and Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha to intervene directly, halt police actions, and amicably resolve the long-standing demands of the FMG interns.