Has Punjab increased the stipend for medical interns?
Decision taken after meeting with Health and Finance Ministers; stipend raised from ₹15,000 to ₹22,000
Chandigarh / Punjab : In a significant relief for medical students, the Punjab government has approved a hike in the monthly stipend for interns working in government medical colleges across the state. The decision was finalized after a joint meeting between Punjab Health Minister and Finance Minister, where various issues related to medical education and healthcare staffing were discussed.
As per the new decision, interns will now receive ₹22,000 per month, a notable increase from the earlier ₹15,000. This move comes after long-standing demands from medical interns and student bodies, who argued that the previous amount was insufficient given the workload and rising cost of living.
The revision will be implemented across all government run medical colleges in Punjab, including prominent institutions in Amritsar, Patiala, and Faridkot. A senior official from the health department confirmed that the increased stipend will be effective from the upcoming academic month. Health Minister said in a statement, Our medical interns work tirelessly on the frontlines of healthcare. It is only fair that they are compensated adequately. We aim to encourage more youth to join the medical profession without financial stress.
This move is being welcomed by students and healthcare advocates alike, who believe it will boost morale and also improve the quality of service in government hospitals. Many states have already revised their intern stipends recently, and Punjab was under pressure to match those standards.
The Finance Minister emphasized that investment in health education is crucial for the future of Punjab’s public healthcare system. The new stipend structure is expected to cost the exchequer a few crores annually, but the government believes it is a worthwhile investment. This development comes at a time when the state is also working on improving infrastructure in medical institutions and expanding the number of seats in MBBS and postgraduate medical courses.