Srinagar, Sep 14: The Jammu and Kashmir Medical Students Association (JKMSA) has sought a comprehensive revision of stipends for postgraduate (PG) residents and remuneration for senior resident doctors in government medical institutions across Jammu and Kashmir.
In a representation addressed to the Health Minister, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, the association urged the government to review the existing remuneration structure, citing disparities with other major government and apex medical institutions.
The association also extended its support to the demands raised by the Resident Doctors Association (RDA) of Jammu and other resident doctors’ associations across the Union Territory.
JKMSA said postgraduate and senior resident doctors form an indispensable part of the healthcare system, providing round-the-clock patient care, emergency and casualty services, intensive care, operation theatre duties, labour room services and specialist consultations.
It said resident doctors also undertake clinical documentation, teaching, supervision and other responsibilities alongside their medical training.
The association said the existing remuneration structure needed a comprehensive review in the interest of resident doctors’ welfare, equitable compensation, recruitment and retention of qualified doctors, quality of postgraduate medical education and uninterrupted patient care.
Seeks parity with other medical institutions
In its representation, JKMSA cited remuneration benchmarks from several medical institutions, including the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), AIIMS Jammu, Government Medical College Chandigarh and Government Medical College Jammu.
According to the figures cited by the association, PG residents at SKIMS receive approximately Rs 80,000 per month in the first year, Rs 85,000 in the second year and Rs 88,000–90,000 in the third year.
The representation puts senior resident remuneration at SKIMS at approximately Rs 1.30 lakh per month, while the corresponding figure for AIIMS Jammu is stated to be around Rs 1.40 lakh.
It also cites senior resident remuneration of approximately Rs 1.40 lakh to Rs 1.50 lakh per month at Government Medical College Chandigarh.
For Government Medical College Jammu, the association listed the current monthly stipends as Rs 64,000 for first-year PG residents, Rs 68,000 for second-year residents and Rs 72,000 for third-year residents. Senior residents, it said, receive Rs 94,000 per month.
The association said these figures highlighted the remuneration differences faced by resident doctors in the region and reinforced the need for a rational and time-bound review. It added that the figures could be verified against applicable official orders and pay structures during the government’s review.
Cites NMC regulations
JKMSA also referred to the Post-Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023, notified by the National Medical Commission (NMC), stating that postgraduate students are entitled to stipends on a par with those paid to postgraduate students of state or Central government medical institutions in the state or Union Territory where the institution is located.
The association urged the government to assess the prevailing stipends across Government Medical Colleges Jammu and Srinagar, SKIMS, AIIMS Jammu and other applicable government medical institutions, and rectify any disparities in accordance with the relevant NMC requirements.
The representation further highlighted the clinical responsibilities shouldered by PG residents and senior residents, including emergency duties, inpatient care, intensive care, operative procedures and other essential medical services.
JKMSA said a fair and uniform remuneration structure would help improve resident doctors’ welfare while strengthening the healthcare delivery system across Jammu and Kashmir.
