Foreign medical graduates to get monthly stipend
Coimbatore: Much to the delight of foreign medical graduates (FMG), the state government has issued an order sanctioning a monthly stipend for those pursuing compulsory medical rotating internship (CMRI) in medical colleges in the state.
According to the GO issued on Tuesday, all FMGs undergoing CMRI shall be paid 25,750 per month during the financial year 2022-23. There will be a 3% annual increase in subsequent years, similar to the regular CMRI.
The GO also mentioned that Tamil Nadu MGR Medical University has resolved to reduce the no-objection-certificate processing fee of 3.54 lakh to 25,000 with 18% GST.
FMGs have been requesting the government to waive the facilitation fees of 2 lakh. On this front, the GO said the facilitation fees shall be deducted from the stipend of FMG in 12 installments if they are unable to pay 2 lakh 17,000 in the first 11 months each and 13,000 in the 12th month.
While allowing the concession of 2 lakh to FMG, the director of medical education (DME) has been directed to ensure receipt of undertaking from the students and parents concerned of a stipend to compensate the EMIs allowed against the payment of facilitation fees that is payable for infrastructure and amenities charges.
M Senthil Kumar, secretary of the Tamil Nadu Medical Students Association (TNMSA)-FMG wing, welcomed the announcement. “Health minister Ma Subramanian in July announced waiver of 2 lakh fees. But according to the GO, it will be deducted from the stipend if the concerned FMG is unable to pay the fees. We acknowledge the decision for monthly instalments, but urge the government to consider waiving the facilitation fees completely as there are a number of first-generation aspiring doctors, who could not afford to pay such huge money,” he said, and also urged the government to process their internships by the end of November to begin CMRI programme.
Speaking to TOI, state health secretary P Senthil Kumar said the FMGs will benefit from the GO as the amount they will be paying to Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University has been slashed and they will be provided with a stipend for the first time. “If the graduates can’t afford the 2 lakh fee, they can opt for monthly installments.”
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