The three-day protest by intern doctors in Madhya Pradesh over a stipend hike ended on Wednesday after the state government agreed to increase their monthly stipend by 50 per cent to ₹21,500. The government also ordered action in connection with the police response during the agitation, with two policemen attached to the police lines pending an inquiry.
The decision followed a meeting between Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Rajendra Shukla and representatives of intern doctors, the Junior Doctors Association (JUDA) and the Medical Teachers Association (MTA). Following the agreement, protesting doctors called off their agitation in Bhopal and cleared the road near Kamla Park.
Government Approves 50% Stipend Increase
Rajendra Shukla said the stipend hike was approved with the consent of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. With the 50 per cent increase, intern doctors will now receive ₹21,500 per month.
Before the announcement, doctors had been seeking an increase from around ₹14,337 to ₹30,000 per month. The ₹30,000 figure was the protesters' demand and was not the amount ultimately approved by the government.
The issue had gained momentum as intern doctors argued that their existing stipend was inadequate in view of their workload and the expenses associated with medical training.
Police Action Under Inquiry
The police response to the protest had emerged as another major point of contention between the doctors and the administration.
During the agitation outside Hamidia Hospital on Monday, police used water cannons, while allegations of lathi-charge also triggered criticism from protesting doctors. Videos of the police action circulated widely on social media.
An inquiry was subsequently ordered into the incident. Two policemen have now been attached to the police lines, while a broader inquiry will determine whether further action is required.
Three-Day Protest Ends
The agitation began on Monday and intensified over the following two days. Doctors gathered at Kamla Park and blocked the road as they pressed for the stipend increase and action over the police response.
The protest also received support from doctors at other medical institutions in the state. Intern doctors and junior doctors at MGM Medical College in Indore also held demonstrations in support of the demands.
With the government accepting the stipend hike, the Bhopal protest was called off on Wednesday and the affected road was opened for traffic.
Hamidia Hospital Services Affected
The agitation had an impact on outpatient and elective medical services at Hamidia Hospital, although emergency and intensive care services continued.
The disruption created difficulties for patients who had travelled to Bhopal from districts such as Vidisha, Sehore and Singrauli. The protest highlighted the operational dependence of government hospitals on intern and junior doctors, particularly for routine and elective services.
Doctors maintained that the agitation was intended to press their demands before the government and was not aimed at deliberately disrupting essential healthcare services.
Doctors' Other Demands
Apart from the stipend increase, protesting doctors had raised several other issues, including action over the police response, compensation for doctors injured during the protest and protection against disciplinary action for those participating peacefully.
The demand for parity in stipends, described by the doctors as “one nation, one stipend,” was also among the issues raised during the agitation.
While the government has accepted the 50 per cent stipend increase, other issues related to the police action remain subject to the inquiry.
What Happens Next
The immediate outcome of the protest is the government's decision to increase the monthly stipend to ₹21,500 and the end of the three-day agitation.
The police inquiry will now determine the circumstances surrounding the use of force during the protest and whether additional action is warranted against personnel involved.
For intern doctors, the next key step will be implementation of the revised stipend. For the administration, attention is likely to remain on maintaining uninterrupted healthcare services while addressing the concerns raised by the medical community.
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