# Bhopal Intern Doctors Shut Hospital OPDs on Day Three of Stipend Hike Strike

> Intern doctors in Bhopal entered the third day of their strike demanding a stipend increase from Rs 14,337 to Rs 30,000, leading to a shutdown of OPD services across government medical colleges.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Madhya Pradesh · **Published:** 2026-09-09 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/madhya-pradesh/staipenda-barhotari-ki-manga-para-are-bhopal-ke-doktaron-ki-haratala-se-opd-thapa-apatakalina-sevaen-chalu-29995 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, Doctor Strike, Intern Doctors, Stipend Hike, Hamidia Hospital, Gandhi Medical College, OPD Services

The ongoing protest by intern doctors in Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh, reached its third consecutive day as students intensified their demand for a stipend revision. With the striking doctors refusing to back down without a concrete agreement, outpatient department (OPD) services at major government medical colleges remained completely suspended. However, to ensure that critical patients do not suffer, healthcare authorities confirmed that emergency and trauma care services are functioning normally across all affected institutions.

 

## Demand for Written Assurance on Rs 30,000 Stipend

The primary grievance of the intern doctors centers around their monthly compensation. At present, interns receive a stipend of approximately Rs 14,337 per month, an amount they argue is severely inadequate considering their working hours and living costs. The medical students are demanding an immediate hike to Rs 30,000 per month. Emphasizing that verbal promises have proven ineffective in the past, the protesters have maintained that the agitation will continue until the state government issues an official written confirmation approving the revised stipend amount.

 

## Demonstration Near CM House and Severe Traffic Disruptions

Taking their grievances to the streets, the protesting interns staged a sit-in at the Kamala Park area, located merely 100 meters away from the Chief Minister's official residence. The road blockade led to widespread traffic congestion that lasted for several hours. Senior police and administrative personnel rushed to the spot to negotiate with the students and clear the thoroughfare, but the protesters stood their ground. In response, security was stepped up, turning the vicinity into a heavily guarded zone. Authorities eventually managed to open one lane of the road, though vehicular movement remained extremely slow between Polytechnic Chouraha and Retghat.

 

## Anger Over Police Action, Water Cannon, and Alleged Lathi Charge

Tensions escalated further over reported police actions during Monday's demonstrations. Protesting students accused the police of using water cannons and launching a lathi charge against peaceful marchers, resulting in injuries to several medical interns. The doctors are demanding an immediate and impartial inquiry into the conduct of the police officers involved in the action. Additionally, they have called for appropriate compensation for injured students and an official apology from the government regarding the high-handedness of the security forces.

 

## Senior and Junior Doctor Associations Extend Support

The protest has gathered significant momentum as broader medical organizations have stepped in to support the interns. The Junior Doctor Association (JDA) issued a call to halt OPD operations in government healthcare centers across the state. Furthermore, Rakesh Malviya, State President of the Medical Association, confirmed that senior doctors at Hamidia Hospital, affiliated with Gandhi Medical College in Bhopal, will also boycott OPD duties. Despite the disruption to routine services, medical representatives reiterated that emergency care would remain fully operational to safeguard critically ill patients.

 

## Ongoing Talks with Health Minister as Impasse Continues

Efforts to resolve the standoff are currently underway, with government officials engaging in continuous dialogue with representatives of the striking interns. While the students firmly insist on a written commitment guaranteeing the stipend increase from Rs 14,337 to Rs 30,000, administration representatives expressed optimism that a resolution would be reached soon. Senior police officers, including Bhopal Additional CP Shailendra Singh Chauhan, remain on site to oversee law and order. For now, the intern doctors maintain that their strike will persist until all formal demands are satisfied.

## What this means for you
The strike directly affects healthcare access for thousands of patients relying on government hospital facilities in Bhopal and Madhya Pradesh.

- **Across Madhya Pradesh:** Outpatient services across state-run medical college hospitals are suspended, forcing routine patients arriving from rural areas to return without treatment. Non-emergency consultations and elective follow-ups remain halted.
- **In Bhopal:** Thousands of daily visitors at Gandhi Medical College and Hamidia Hospital face significant disruption due to closed OPD registration counters. Emergency care and trauma units, however, continue to function for critical cases.
- **Commuter Impact:** Traffic congestion along the Kamala Park corridor connecting Polytechnic Chouraha to Retghat has caused delays for motorists navigating central Bhopal.
- **Advice for Visitors:** Patients seeking routine medical advice are advised to verify hospital OPD functionality or visit primary care centers before traveling to major medical colleges.

## Why this happened
The protest stems from long-standing financial dissatisfaction among medical interns coupled with outrage over police handling of their demonstration.

- **Stipend Disparity:** Interns currently receive a monthly stipend of Rs 14,337, which they consider disproportionate to their rigorous duty hours, prompting the demand for Rs 30,000 per month.
- **Lack of Written Guarantee:** Protesters refused to end the strike based solely on verbal promises from health authorities, demanding a signed government notification instead.
- **Escalation Following Police Action:** Alleged police force, including the use of water cannons and lathi-charge during Monday's march, intensified anger among medical students and drew support from senior medical associations.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Why are intern doctors protesting in Bhopal?
The intern doctors are protesting to demand an increase in their monthly stipend from Rs 14,337 to Rs 30,000.

### 2. Are emergency medical services shut down during the strike?
No, emergency and trauma care services remain fully functional to treat critically ill patients.

### 3. Have senior doctors supported the intern protest?
Yes, both the Junior Doctor Association and senior doctors from the Medical Association have supported the strike by suspending OPD duties.

### 4. What demands have protesters made regarding police actions?
Protesters have demanded an independent probe into police officers who used water cannons and lathi charges, compensation for injured students, and an official apology.

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