Telangana’s Foreign Medical Graduates Seek Equal Pay and Recognition

Swift Summary

• Issue: Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) working as interns/house surgeons in Telangana face systemic discrimination regarding stipends, recognition, and working conditions.
• Concerns Raised: FMGs perform equal clinical duties in government and private hospitals but receive a monthly stipend of ₹5,000-significantly lower than their Indian-trained counterparts’ revised stipend of ₹29,792.
• Representation Submitted: Telangana Junior Doctors association (T-JUDA) formally approached the Director of Medical Education (DME) seeking intervention for fair treatment and parity between FMG and Indian-trained interns.
• Demands Made by T-JUDA:

1. immediate revision to include FMG interns under the updated house surgeon stipend structure.
2. Timely disbursement of stipends across all institutions.
3. Formal recognition of FMGs as equal contributors under National Medical Commission guidelines.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The alleged disparities highlighted by the Telangana Junior Doctors Association reflect a deeper issue within India’s healthcare system-how foreign-trained medical professionals are integrated into domestic practices. Despite meeting certification requirements like clearing the mandatory Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), these graduates find themselves financially undervalued while carrying notable responsibilities amid staff shortages.

Fair allocation of resources is crucial for enduring healthcare development. Addressing grievances such as unequal pay not onyl provides justice to skilled professionals but may also help mitigate broader challenges like brain drain or declining morale among medical workers. If unresolved, these issues could create negative ripple effects on the quality and efficiency of public health services delivered at grassroots levels across Telangana.

Read more: The Hindu