Interns need assurance, patients need care

The continuing strike by MBBS and BDS interns in Jammu and Kashmir exposes a problem that should have been resolved through administrative dialogue rather than prolonged agitation. Their demand for an increase in monthly stipend from Rs 12,300 to Rs 30,000 is significant, particularly when interns work long hours, perform emergency duties and shoulder substantial responsibilities in government hospitals. The government has already acknowledged that the demand is justified and that the matter is under consideration in the Finance Department. Yet, the latest meeting between the interns and Health Minister Sakeena Itoo has failed to break the deadlock because the interns were unwilling to accept another verbal assurance. Their insistence on a written commitment is understandable. An issue that has remained pending despite repeated representations cannot indefinitely be answered with the phrase that it is “under process”. If the government genuinely intends to resolve the matter, it should provide a clear roadmap, including the status of the proposal, the financial implications and a reasonable timeline for a decision. At the same time, an indefinite strike by medical interns carries consequences that cannot be ignored. Government hospitals depend significantly on interns for routine ward duties, emergency assistance and patient-care services. Their absence inevitably increases the workload on postgraduate doctors and other medical staff, ultimately affecting patients. The dispute must therefore not become a confrontation between the government and young doctors. Both sides have legitimate concerns, but the immediate priority should be finding a workable settlement. The government should consider issuing a formal written assurance specifying the steps being taken and the timeframe for a final decision. The interns, in turn, should consider resuming clinical duties once such a credible commitment is provided. A government hospital is not an ordinary workplace. Its disputes have direct consequences for patients. The stipend issue deserves an early resolution, but patient care must remain non-negotiable.