More than 50 foreign medical graduates (FMGs) from Delhi on Wednesday met the Delhi Health Minister to raise concerns over delay in training allocation and disparity in salary payment, according to a delegation co-led by the Federation of Indian Medical Associations (FAIMA).
The delegation said that FMGs face uncertainty for a long period despite passing the mandatory qualification examinations required to start their internships. Representatives of the minister said that the delay in allocation had caused financial difficulties, professional setbacks and psychological pressure among young doctors waiting to begin their training.
“For months, FMGs have faced enormous uncertainty and hardships. Despite successfully clearing the mandatory examinations, many graduates are still waiting for training allotment, resulting in loss of valuable time, financial stress, career delays and mental stress,” Dr Samar Kumar, National Officer for FMGs, FAIMA, said in a statement.
Representatives also raised concerns about differences in salary payments between institutions. They said that many hospitals and medical institutions were either paying inadequate salaries or not providing any salaries at all to FMGs undergoing training.
“Those who are allocated seats also face wide disparities in salaries, with many institutions offering inadequate wages or no salaries at all,” the statement added.
During the meeting, the Delhi Health Minister assured the delegation that the issues raised would be addressed as soon as possible. FMGs welcomed these assurances and expressed hope that the matter would be resolved soon.
The statement added: “The Honorable Minister of Health assured the delegation that the matter will be dealt with immediately. We sincerely appreciate his positive response and commitment towards resolving the FMGs’ concerns.”
However, the representatives stressed the need for urgent action, saying the ongoing delays are affecting hundreds of young medical professionals across the national capital.
“Given the urgency of the issue and the long suffering of hundreds of young doctors, we respectfully request the authorities to implement the necessary measures and complete the training allocation process within one week, so that the FMGs can begin their training without any further delay,” the statement added. (that I)
