After years of rigorous training, sleepless nights, and relentless examinations, every medical student looks forward to the final year—internship, often called the golden era of student life. It is the phase where students feel they have conquered the basics of medicine and are finally stepping into the real world as near-doctors.
Interns are no longer treated as students. They are seniors, role models for juniors, and future professionals being prepared for independent practice. They manage wards, assist in procedures, attend emergencies, and often work exhausting shifts that keep the healthcare system functioning smoothly.
Yet, a troubling question remains: why are interns in many colleges underpaid—or not paid at all?
Despite carrying significant responsibility and forming the backbone of day-to-day patient care, interns are often labelled merely as “learners,” a justification used to overlook fair compensation. Learning and labour, however, are not mutually exclusive.
If we expect dedication, empathy, and accountability from future doctors, we must begin by valuing their work today. Learning should be demanding—but it should never be exploitative.
This raises another concern: why do regulations and stipends apply mainly to government institutions, while autonomous and private medical colleges function with little accountability? A uniform, enforceable policy governing all medical colleges—irrespective of their administrative status—is long overdue.
Medical education cannot operate on unequal standards. When interns across institutions perform similar duties and shoulder equal responsibility, fair compensation should not depend on the type of college they train in.
What do you think??
MBH/AB