“Wake Up, NMC: Supreme Court’s Stern Reminder on Interns’ Dues”

The Supreme Court of India has once again become the voice for those who tirelessly serve without being heard — the nation’s medical interns. In a strongly worded observation, the apex court slammed the National Medical Commission (NMC) for its lethargy and inaction over the non-payment of stipends to MBBS interns across several states. “Wake up from slumber,” the court said, giving NMC a clear deadline to ensure every intern doctor receives what is rightfully theirs.

For months, reports have poured in from government and private medical colleges where interns have been made to work long hours — often handling emergency wards, assisting surgeries, and managing patients — without a single rupee in remuneration. Their service forms the backbone of hospital functioning, yet their struggles are brushed aside as “administrative delays.” The Supreme Court’s sharp rebuke has, for the first time, forced accountability on a system that has long ignored its youngest healers.

Internship is not charity — it’s an essential phase of medical training, where skill meets responsibility. These interns are not students anymore; they are doctors in transition, working under immense pressure and fatigue. The absence of fair stipends not only demeans their contribution but also discourages many from pursuing the noble profession with dignity.

The Court’s intervention sends a clear message — that exploitation under the guise of education will no longer be tolerated. It’s time the NMC acts not as a passive regulator but as a guardian of medical ethics and fairness. A timely stipend isn’t a privilege; it’s a professional right.

As the deadline ticks, the question remains — will NMC finally deliver justice to those who heal the nation, or will another generation of young doctors be left waiting for their due?