Medical Interns Sell Shifts on WhatsApp

In West Bengal, a concerning cash-for-duty network has emerged where medical interns are allegedly using WhatsApp groups to buy and sell hospital shifts and emergency room duties. This practice, reportedly widespread across nearly all government medical colleges and hospitals, allows interns to exchange mandatory rotatory shifts for hourly rates between Rs 200 and Rs 600.

The Health Department has initiated a biometric attendance system to combat this unethical exchange of duties. Health Minister Sharadwat Mukhopadhyay confirmed the practice's prevalence and the government's commitment to eradicating such malpractices, stating that many involved interns have been warned. Previously, informal duty adjustments were common, but the monetary aspect was reportedly unknown to authorities.

Officials and doctors have expressed dismay over interns bargaining for shifts as if they were commodities, emphasizing that such actions are illegal and compromise patient safety. While some interns argue for leniency, citing intense work pressure and poor conditions, others admit the duty swapping for money is an open secret, often done to prepare for postgraduate entrance exams.