JNIMS doctors launch strike over fee hike
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 22 2025: Protesting against a steep hike in fees from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 3 lakh, resident doctors of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) have launched an indefinite strike starting Thursday.

As part of the agitation, the striking doctors suspended all outpatient department (OPD) services, ward activities, routine operations, and academic sessions for a period of 72 hours.

They have issued stern warning of abstaining from emergency services duty if the authorities fail to address their demands within the stipulated timeframe.

The doctors are demanding a rollback of the revised fee structure and urging the administration to respond positively before the deadline ends.

Speaking to reporters, Resident Doctors Association, JNIMS president Dr Kh Ananda informed that nearly 70 percent of the doctors at the institute are resident doctors.

He said the fee for the three-year residency, which was previously Rs 1 lakh, was hiked to Rs 3 lakh in October 2022 .

Despite the significant increase in fees, he pointed but that the stipends for resident doctors remain unchanged, while adding that the association has been urging the authorities to roll back the fee hike to the original amount for the past year, with, no positive response received so far.

Dr Ananda further informed that around 15 percent of the stipend received by resident doctors at JNIMS is deducted to cover their fees.

In contrast, in most other states, only 3 to 5 percent of the stipend goes toward such payments.

He expressed concern that, despite being a state-run medical institute, the fees at JNIMS are nearly on par with those charged by private medical colleges.

Terming it unfortunate, Dr Kh Ananda highlighted the financial and emotional burden this places on government-selected resident doctors, who have endured immense hardship and dedicated effort to reach their current stage of training.

He also warned that the resident doctors may be forced to shut down emergency services at the hospital if their demands are not honoured within 72 hours.

Following their sit-in protest in front of the OPD block, the resident doctors took out a protest rally around the JNIMS campus to further press their demands.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that the JNIMS authorities have initiated steps to address the concerns raised by the resident doctors.

They have also appealed to the protesting doctors to call off their agitation in view of the ongoing crisis in the state.

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