In many parts of Tamil Nadu, MBBS-qualified doctors working in the private sector are being paid only between ₹30,000 and ₹45,000 a month.
While their remuneration varies based on their place of work – cities, semi-urban or small-towns – excessive workloads, unwritten rules restricting weekly offs or eligible leave, and financial stress are troubling many of them.
Inquiries with a number of private sector doctors in different parts of the State reveal that many hospitals “underpaid” MBBS doctors, who mostly worked as duty doctors on a shift basis. This included regular night shifts, and periodic 24-hour duty.
In Chennai, the salary ranged from ₹40,000 to ₹50,000, with very few centres paying the latter amount. Some doctors noted that in places such as Tiruchi, Madurai and other areas of southern Tamil Nadu, the monthly salary was ₹40,000 for eight hours of duty per day. In places such as Ariyalur and the majority of towns, it is roughly ₹25,000 to ₹35,000. There are hospitals that pay doctors on an hourly basis too, while some pay additional allowances to work as casualty medical officers.
A doctor from the central district said he was paid ₹30,000 a month for 10 to 12 hours a day, and not allowed to take weekly off. “We can take two days leave every month, but if we take more than that, our salary will be cut. Also, we must arrange a replacement, or else, the hospital management does not grant permission for leave,” he said.
Despite having an experience of seven years, he has had no salary increments so far.
Many doctors take up these jobs due to their financial situation. A woman doctor, who worked for two years as a junior resident for ₹40,000 in a private medical college hospital, said, “With this salary, it is very hard to pay monthly loan instalment, that I had taken to manage my education as well as family expenses.”
“We cannot manage with this amount in a city like Chennai. We have to pay house rent, and spend for basic needs, including food and petrol. I have a loan to repay and zero savings,” another doctor said.
She further said that hospitals in some other States pay better. “I have heard from my friends that in cities such as Hyderabad, the pay is ₹80,000 per month for eight hours of work a day,” she said.
A foreign medical graduate, who spent ₹35 lakh to study, said, “There is no other option but to take up a job that pays ₹30,000. A number of daily wage jobs pay much more. Why isn’t a minimum salary being fixed for MBBS doctors?”
Some doctors alleged that even if they were sick, getting relieved from duty was difficult, while some do extra duty to tide over their financial crisis.
“There has been no increase in the salary for MBBS doctors for the last 10 to 15 years, as there is no demand,” a doctor said.
This affects first generation doctors. “Most doctors are made to do all ward-related works. There is no other option due to the lack of employment opportunities in the government sector. Every year, around 11,000 MBBS doctors graduate in Tamil Nadu but no new posts have been created in the government sector for 10 to 15 years. The Medical Services Recruitment Board filled the posts of medical officers with specialists,” a doctor said.
A section of doctors stressed the need for new posts of doctors, and a fixed basic reasonable pay for MBBS doctors working in the private sector.
Published – July 12, 2025 12:49 am IST
