New Delhi, Feb 3 (PTI) – The Supreme Court on Monday sought a response from the central government and other concerned authorities regarding a petition highlighting the non-payment of emoluments to resident doctors pursuing postgraduate diploma courses at Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) hospitals and colleges.
A bench comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Ahsanuddin Amanullah issued notices to the Centre and other respondents following the plea.
The petition, filed by advocate Tanvi Dubey, raises concerns over the stark disparity in stipends provided to medical trainees. It points out that resident doctors enrolled in post-MBBS diploma programs, Diplomate of National Board (DNB), post-diploma DNB, and Doctorate of National Board (DrNB) courses are not receiving fair financial support, unlike their counterparts in Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Master of Surgery (MS) programs.
"The expenses incurred by DNB candidates are nearly identical to those of MD/MS students. However, it is distressing that DNB candidates do not receive any financial allowances, unlike their MD/MS counterparts," the petition stated.
The plea further argues that the lower stipends and absence of allowances for these doctors are arbitrary and unjust, leaving them financially disadvantaged compared to their peers in similar postgraduate medical training programs.
The respondents named in the petition include the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences, the director general of ESIC, and ESIC hospitals across several states, including Delhi, Rajasthan, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Gujarat.
The case highlights ongoing concerns regarding financial inequality in medical education and training, with the Supreme Court now demanding answers from the authorities involved.
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