# Low Stipends Spark Protests at Doon Hospital as MBBS Interns Demand Fair Compensation in Uttarakhand

> Medical interns and PG doctors at Doon Hospital in Dehradun have been protesting for a week over meager stipends of just 17,000 rupees per month. The junior doctors highlight the immense financial strain of working 12 to 14 hour daily shifts while struggling to cover basic living expenses.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Uttarakhand · **Published:** 2026-09-14 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/uttarakhand/uttarakhand-ke-doon-hospital-men-kama-staipenda-ke-khilapha-doktaron-ka-phuta-gussa-mbbs-ke-bada-bhi-arthika-tngi-jhela-rahe-intar-32233 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Dehradun News, Doon Hospital, MBBS Interns, Stipend Hike, Uttarakhand Healthcare, Doctors Protest

The prestigious Doon Hospital in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, is currently witnessing intense agitations as junior doctors and MBBS interns enter their second week of protests. Despite spending millions on their medical education and working tirelessly to serve patients round the clock, these trainee physicians have been forced to demonstrate for their basic rights. Protesters complain that Uttarakhand offers a significantly lower stipend compared to other Indian states. Despite enduring heavy clinical workloads and demanding service conditions, the lack of reasonable compensation has fueled deep resentment among the medical community. The interns have made it clear that they will not withdraw their strike until the government implements a fair hike in their stipends.

## Severe Financial Hurdles Amid Grueling Clinical Shifts
For these young doctors, many of whom have relocated from distant towns and villages, surviving in an expensive city on a meager allowance has become a major challenge. Dr. Shruti, an intern hailing from a small village in Pauri district, shared the hardships faced by her family. Her parents went to great lengths and made immense sacrifices to fund her NEET preparation and send her to Dehradun for medical studies. However, after completing four years of rigorous academics, her internship requires her to work exhausting 12 to 14 hour daily shifts, for which she receives a mere 17,000 rupees a month. Dr. Shruti pointed out that basic daily expenses in Dehradun amount to approximately 550 rupees. Additionally, since the medical college and the hospital are located far apart, a significant portion of their stipend is spent on daily transport and other bare necessities, leaving them with absolutely no savings.

## The Burden of Parental Dependence After MBBS
The psychological toll of this financial strain is equally alarming. Dr. Niharika, another protesting intern, expressed how disheartening it is to ask parents for pocket money even after completing an expensive MBBS degree. She pointed out that not every family has the financial resilience to continuously support a child through years of higher education and subsequent training. These young professionals, who entered the medical field with dreams of improving healthcare in underserved rural areas, are now struggling to support themselves. Protesting students argue that several other states, including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh (UP), and Maharashtra, provide honorable stipends ranging from 60,000 to 1,00,000 rupees to their intern and PG doctors. In an era of rising inflation, the stipend offered in Uttarakhand is negligible. The interns are demanding that the state government recognize their contribution and provide fair remuneration so they can deliver optimal patient care without the constant burden of financial anxiety.

## What this means for you
This strike and the underlying issue of low stipends directly affect common citizens and the medical profession.

- **In Uttarakhand:** Patient care at Doon Hospital, especially in the outpatient department (OPD) and general wards, faces delays. Regular operations may be disrupted as junior staff refuse to work.
- **Financial Planning for Future Doctors:** High educational costs coupled with low early career compensation mean medical aspirants must recalibrate their long term financial expectations. This might make the medical profession less attractive.
- **Impact on Rural Healthcare:** If trainee doctors continue to face extreme financial distress, they may hesitate to serve in remote rural regions of Uttarakhand. This could weaken the state's rural healthcare framework.

## Why this happened
The protest at Doon Hospital has erupted due to the vast discrepancy between the high cost of living and the minimal stipend provided to medical trainees.

- **Highly Inadequate Compensation:** Trainee doctors in Uttarakhand are paid only 17,000 rupees per month, which fails to match basic living expenses in an expensive city like Dehradun.
- **Extreme Work Hours:** Interns are subjected to grueling 12 to 14 hour shifts daily without any additional allowances or overtime support, causing severe burnout.
- **Logistic and Living Costs:** High daily expenses of around 550 rupees combined with transit costs between the medical college and the hospital completely drain their meager monthly stipend.
- **Inequality in Nationwide Stipends:** States like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Maharashtra offer stipends ranging from 60,000 to 1,00,000 rupees, which has intensified the sense of discrimination among Uttarakhand's doctors.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Why are doctors protesting at Doon Hospital?
Doctors are protesting against their extremely low monthly stipend, demanding a fair and respectful hike.

### 2. How much stipend do MBBS interns receive in Uttarakhand?
MBBS interns in Uttarakhand are currently paid a meager monthly stipend of only 17,000 rupees.

### 3. What are the daily working hours of these interns?
Interns are required to perform intensive and grueling clinical duties for 12 to 14 hours every day.

### 4. What is the stipend structure for medical interns in other states?
In states like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra, trainee doctors receive between 60,000 and 1,00,000 rupees per month.

---
_TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._