150 Foreign Medical Graduates Stage Relay Hunger Strike On Day 29
They said the government had not issued a Government Order (GO) or given a written assurance on their demands or a timeline for implementing them.
Hyderabad:Around 150 foreign medical graduate (FMG) interns staged an eight-hour relay hunger strike at Dharna Chowk near Indira Park on Thursday, marking the 29th day of their protest demanding stipend parity with Indian medical graduates (IMGs). The interns resumed their agitation after a 10-day break during which their representatives held discussions with health minister Damodar Rajanarsimha and department officials. They said the government had not issued a Government Order (GO) or given a written assurance on their demands or a timeline for implementing them.
The interns were demanding a monthly stipend of ₹29,792, on par with local medical graduates undergoing compulsory internships in government hospitals. They have also sought payment of pending stipend arrears from January 2026. The Telangana Doctors Federation (TDF), represented by general secretary Dr L. Chetan Reddy and working president Dr Nikhil Kumar, extended support to the agitation. Dr Chetan Reddy said foreign medical graduates performed the same clinical duties as Indian medical graduates and should receive equal treatment.
The protesting interns have also sought protection against victimisation, disciplinary action or extensions of their internship for participating in peaceful demonstrations. The representatives said the protest would continue until the government issued a formal written order addressing their demands.
