A protest by medical interns at Gandhi Medical College and Hamidia Hospital over a stipend hike has escalated into a wider standoff, with junior doctors joining the agitation and senior doctors warning that they could also stop work.
The interns are demanding an increase in their monthly stipend from around ₹14,000 to ₹30,000. The agitation has also caused major traffic disruption around the Kamla Park-Polytechnic Square-Retghat stretch of Bhopal.
Protest over stipend
MBBS interns at Gandhi Medical College have been demanding a revision of their stipend, arguing that the existing amount does not adequately reflect their workload and responsibilities.
Reports put the current stipend at around ₹14,337, while the protesters are seeking ₹30,000 per month.
The issue has now moved beyond a student-level protest, with junior doctors and other medical bodies expressing solidarity.
Police action intensifies dispute
The situation escalated after police used a water cannon during a protest at Hamidia Hospital.
Videos showing intern doctors being drenched by the water cannon circulated widely on social media. Some protesters were reportedly injured during the action.
The incident subsequently attracted the attention of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.
Police inquiry ordered
Following the controversy, Bhopal Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar ordered an inquiry into the police action.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Zone-2 Vikas Sahwal was appointed as the inquiry officer. Additional Police Commissioner Shailendra Singh Chouhan said the inquiry would examine all aspects of the incident and would be conducted independently.
The inquiry is significant because the immediate dispute has expanded from stipend demands to questions over how the protest was handled.
OPD and medical services affected
The agitation has also raised concerns over disruption to patient services at Gandhi Medical College and Hamidia Hospital.
Junior doctors have joined the protest, while senior doctors have warned of further action if the dispute is not resolved.
Any prolonged stoppage could put additional pressure on one of Bhopal's major government healthcare institutions, which caters to patients from across Madhya Pradesh.
Traffic disrupted across central Bhopal
The protest has also affected traffic movement.
On Tuesday, protesting interns blocked one lane near Kilol Park, disrupting movement along the Kamla Park stretch between Polytechnic Square and Retghat. Traffic remained severely affected throughout the day, with congestion worsening during the evening rush hour.
The road network around Old Bhopal was particularly affected as commuters diverted to alternative routes.
Government faces pressure for resolution
The dispute now involves three interconnected issues: the demand for higher stipends, the police action against protesting doctors and continuity of patient services.
With the police inquiry underway and medical associations joining the agitation, the administration faces pressure to find a settlement without allowing disruption to emergency and routine healthcare services to continue.
For patients, the immediate concern remains whether OPD, surgery and other hospital services will operate normally while negotiations continue.
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