NEW DELHI: Despite being pulled up by the Supreme Court and receiving reminders from the Union Health Ministry, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has failed to act against 65 medical colleges that have not submitted details of stipends paid to MBBS interns.
The inaction continues months after the NMC warned in July 2025 that regulatory action would follow if colleges did not disclose stipend information. An RTI reply from the Health Ministry said these colleges have not shared details with the NMC in the past six months.
In its RTI reply dated January 19, the ministry said compilation of undergraduate stipend details is to be done by the Under-Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) as per Supreme Court orders, and about 65 colleges are yet to comply. Kerala-based RTI activist Dr KV Babu, who filed the application, said the reply shows non-compliance despite warnings. He said the ministry issued reminders to the NMC based on his complaint, but no action has followed.
In a notice dated July 11, 2025, the NMC cited a Supreme Court order on issues including fees and non-payment of stipends. The regulator’s shifting stance has triggered protests by medical students and resident doctors’ associations.
On October 28, the Supreme Court pulled up the NMC for delaying its response to a plea alleging that 70 per cent of medical colleges do not pay stipends to interns. The court directed the NMC and the Union government to submit data and urged the regulator to act.