‘Equal work, equal stipend’: Foreign medical graduates protest in Hyderabad demanding ₹29,792 monthly

On Thursday, a group of foreign medical graduates (FMGs) gathered outside the Andhra Pradesh Health University campus in Hyderabad to demand a monthly stipend of ₹29,792, which they say matches the daily wages earned by construction labourers in the city. The protesters carried placards that read “Equal work, equal stipend” and marched for several hours, drawing attention from local media and passersby. Organisers explained that the current allowance of ₹15,000 per month does not cover basic living expenses, forcing many interns to rely on loans or part‑time jobs.

Foreign medical graduates are doctors who have completed their MBBS abroad and are required to undergo a one‑year internship in India before they can register with the Medical Council. The internship is intended to provide practical experience, yet the stipend they receive is significantly lower than that paid to Indian medical graduates, who earn up to ₹30,000 per month in similar positions. Protesters pointed out that the cost of living in Hyderabad has risen sharply, with rent and food prices increasing by more than 20 percent in the past year, making the existing allowance insufficient.

The state health department has acknowledged the concerns and said it will review the stipend policy in consultation with the Medical Council of India and representatives of the FMG community. Officials noted that any increase must be balanced against budget constraints and the need to maintain fairness across all categories of interns. Meanwhile, the protest has sparked a broader debate about the treatment of foreign‑trained professionals in India, with labor unions urging the government to adopt a uniform pay structure that reflects the cost of living in major cities.