Medical interns to donate blood

Opting for ‘Gandhigiri’, intern doctors at 18 medical colleges across the state have decided to donate blood as part of their protest to demand a higher stipend.

Opting for ‘Gandhigiri’, intern doctors at 18 medical colleges across the state have decided to donate blood as part of their protest to demand a higher stipend.

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Next week, the Association of State Medical Interns (ASMI) will donate blood on different days. They are in the process of talking to blood banks.

The doctors have also decided to wear black armbands. “We want to tell patients that we are concerned about them while we fight for a hike in stipend,” said Dr Vijay Bonde, general secretary, ASMI. Interns are paid Rs2,550 stipend a month and are demanding that it be raised to Rs13,000.

Milind Mhaiskar, secretary of medical education department, said, “Even if there is a plan to increase the stipends, it will have to be put before the cabinet which requires time.”