Equal Effort, Unequal Pay? The Delhi HC Verdict on AIIMS’ Stipend Policy

A recent ruling by the Delhi High Court has sparked renewed conversation over fairness in India’s premier medical institutions. The Court upheld AIIMS’ policy to provide stipends only to Indian junior resident doctors, while foreign PG trainees will not receive any payment.
The reasoning is rooted in regulatory structure: Indian residents are officially appointed, registered to practice, and directly responsible for patient care under Indian medical laws. Foreign trainees, however, do not hold the same licensure or employment status — making AIIMS financially accountable only to its Indian workforce.
But real-life hospital corridors tell a more complicated story.

Foreign PG trainees often share the same gruelling duties — emergency calls, ward responsibilities, sleepless nights, and critical decision-making. The question that echoes across the campus is simple yet powerful:
> Should two individuals performing the same work be valued differently?
Living in Delhi with no financial support, while contributing to a world-class healthcare load, pushes many into hardship. It creates an uncomfortable divide — one system, two kinds of residents.
The court’s decision is a reminder for institutions and policymakers to rethink fairness in medical education:
Either redefine the roles of foreign trainees clearly as observers, or
Offer minimum support if their contribution is essential to patient care
Excellence is not only about advanced medical facilities — it is about upholding dignity and equity.
AIIMS stands as a symbol of hope and healing for millions. Ensuring that every trainee doctor feels valued will only strengthen that reputation.
Because in medicine, equal effort should never lead to unequal respect.