Foreign Medical Graduates interns’ stipend parity protest enters fourth day in Telangana

The protest by 650 Foreign Medical Graduate (FMG) interns across Telangana entered its fourth day on Sunday, with participants demanding stipend parity with MBBS graduates trained in India. The interns allege they perform identical clinical duties in government hospitals but receive either no stipend or a nominal amount.

Hyderabad: The statewide protests by 650 Foreign Medical Graduate (FMG) interns posted in various government hospitals seeking stipend parity with students who pursued medicine in India, entered the fourth day on Sunday.

While the regular stipend for doctors who completed MBBS in India is Rs 29,792 per month, the FMG interns receive either nothing or a nominal Rs 5,000 despite performing identical clinical duties in outpatient departments, wards, and emergency care, the FMGs said.

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After formal representations and a meeting with the Director of Medical Education (DME), the FMG interns launched a phased protest. After their withdrawal from routine duties, the FMGs have extended the boycott to emergency and casualty services through October 13.

The FMGs’ demands include the issuance of orders ensuring the full monthly stipend of Rs 29,792 in line with NMC guidelines, clearance of all unpaid arrears accumulated since January 2026, and protection against punitive actions, extra duties, or attendance retaliation for participating doctors.

If the demands are not met, the FMGs plan to hold a protest near the DME office in Koti on October 14.

The Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) is a rigorous licensing exam with pass percentages ranging between 12 and 20 percent . After qualifying, FMGs are allotted mandatory Compulsory Rotatory Medical Internships (CRMI) by the state medical council and serve as interns in government hospitals across the state’s districts.