Raipur: Amid an ongoing protest by junior doctors, the Chhattisgarh govt has revised the monthly stipend for MBBS interns in govt medical colleges to Rs 25,000, with the new rate coming into effect from Oct 1.




According to an order issued by the medical education department, the revised stipend was approved following a proposal from the directorate of medical education and concurrence from the finance department.




The revision is expected to benefit MBBS interns across govt medical colleges in the state.




The decision came amid an agitation by the Chhattisgarh Junior Doctors’ Association (JDA), which has been demanding revision of remuneration for different categories of doctors, changes in the bond system and creation of a super-specialty cadre.




JDA president Dr Piyush Srivastava said the order addressed only the stipend of interns and that the protest would continue until the remaining demands were addressed through written orders. He said the association had sought revision of remuneration across categories, including interns, residents and bonded doctors.




Junior doctors boycotted routine OPD services on Thursday but examined patients at a parallel OPD set up at the protest site.




The association said doctors from medical colleges in Raipur, Bilaspur, Ambikapur and Jagdalpur were participating in the agitation. They warned that if its other demands are not addressed, the agitation could be intensified from Sept 28, including withdrawal of emergency services.