Medical interns in West Bengal trading hospital shifts for cash
A network of WhatsApp groups is being used to buy and sell mandatory medical duties for hourly rates, according to The Indian Express.
Medical interns in West Bengal are trading mandatory rotatory shifts for money through a network of WhatsApp groups, according to a report by The Indian Express. These transactions involve interns paying between Rs 200 and Rs 600 per hour to have others cover their hospital duties.
One group named ‘Internship Replacement’ reportedly has more than 255 members who broadcast shift availability and expected payments. Health Minister Sharadwat Mukhopadhyay said the practice is common in nearly all government hospitals and that many interns have been identified and warned.
The state Health Department has introduced a biometric attendance system to stop the practice. During a surprise inspection at Murshidabad Medical College, the minister reportedly saw a dental college intern performing duties on behalf of an MBBS intern.
Tapas Pramanick, a Medical Officer at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, said that while duty adjustments might be allowed on humanitarian grounds, exchanging money is illegal and against norms. He noted that interns have sometimes used Ayurveda students or non-medical friends to step in for them.
The issue has raised concerns regarding patient safety and clinical training. Dr Soumyadip Roy, formerly of the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front, said the swapping of clinical shifts with dental interns or paramedical staff is a serious concern.
While some interns have called for an impartial probe, others described the swapping of duties as an open secret. One intern at a Kolkata medical college noted that the government should also address high work pressure and poor basic conditions.