Senior resident doctors working in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) peripheral hospitals have once again raised demands for a long-pending revision of their stipends, pointing to the growing burden of inflation since 2020 and the persistent disparity in pay compared to their counterparts in state-run hospitals. In a letter to the additional municipal commissioner, the doctors have urged immediate action.

Currently, an estimated 1000-1200 senior resident doctors are working in the four major and 16 peripheral civic hospitals across Mumbai. “These doctors, who have completed their post-graduation and are vital to managing critical cases and emergency services, are feeling ignored and undervalued despite being the backbone of the public healthcare system,” said Dr Abhijit Helge, state president, Maharashtra Senior Resident Doctor Association (MSRDA).

The stipend for senior resident doctors in BMC hospitals currently ranges between Rs 63,000 and Rs 66,000 per month, depending on years of service. In contrast, doctors in state government hospitals under the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) receive upwards of Rs 90,000. “This disparity makes no sense when the responsibilities, workload, and qualifications are the same, if not greater,” said Dr Abhinav Wagh, a medical activist.