20/04/2025
Stipend Disparity & Declining Value – A Harsh Reality for KP Postgraduate Resident Doctors & House Officers who are running all the Tertiary Care Teaching hospitals of the province 24/7 enthusiastically.
In 2015, the Postgraduate Resident Doctors (PGRs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) received a stipend increase from Rs. 42,000 to Rs. 50,000.
Dollar rate (2015): Rs. 102
Rs. 50,000 ≈ $490 /month
Gold rate (2015): Rs. 42,000 per tola → That stipend could buy more than 1 tola of gold.
In 2025, the current PGR stipend stands at Rs. 90,000 in centre and 105k in peripheral hospitals of PG1 .
Dollar rate 2025: Rs. 280
Rs. 90,000 ≈ $321 to 375$ /momth
Gold rate (2025): ~Rs. 330,000 per tola → That amount now buys less than half a tola of gold.(Less than 1/3rd of a tola Gold)
So Stipend has been declined from 490$ to 321$per month or more than 1Tola Gold to less than one third tola gold per month which is huge injustice .
This drastic decline in real value also applies to House Officers, whose stipend increased from Rs. 27,000 (2015) to Rs. 65,000 (2025) — yet their purchasing power has significantly decreased.
So, while stipends have increased numerically in PKR, their actual worth — in terms of dollars and gold — has sharply declined over the years most of the PG Doctors are the sole earner of their families .
Despite this, PG doctors continue to work 24/7, often managing duties equivalent to three Medical Officers, but are expected to sustain themselves on a net stipend of Rs. 75,000 after accommodation deductions in Peshawer & 90k in periprhy.
In 2015, a PG Doctor could cover monthly expenses within Rs. 10,000, but due to skyrocketing inflation, even Rs. 30,000 is now insufficient to meet basic needs.
In the previous fiscal year budget the KP government raised the stipends of local government representatives — including Nazims and Tehsil Mayors — by over 100%, while no such revision was made for PG Doctors and House Officers, who are the backbone of teaching hospitals.In previous govt Stipends of HOS and TMOs was initially raised preferably by KP Govt ,other provinces followed it lately by copying KP .
Adding to the disparity:
In Sindh, PGRs at NICVD Karachi and its satellite centers receive Rs. 157k/month/(170_13)month, plus free accommodation in satellite centrs.
In other teaching Hospitals of Sindh like SIUT,NIBD,GIMS,,PUMHS,NICH &
Aga Khan UH first-year PG Residents Doctors get Rs. 120k/month .
In Punjab, PGs receive around Rs. 116,000/month, with free accommodation worth Rs. 15,000.
In contrast, KP fst year PGRs receive Rs. 90,000, in Center & 105k in periprhy Hospitals with Rs. 15,000 deducted, leaving only Rs. 75,000 to 90k net — a clear and unacceptable According to KP Govt fixed pay policy job for Medical Officer their stipend rate is 170k to 2lac while that of TMO who performing three times duties of a MO is half of that amount is huge injustice .
This is a glaring injustice.
Postgraduate Residents Doctors and House Officers deserve fair, just, and inflation-adjusted stipends. Their vital contribution to healthcare must be recognized, respected, and rewarded. They are the true driving force behind round-the-clock teaching hospital services, yet remain under compensated and deprived from annual stipend increase in budget like other employees and pensioners.
We strongly demand from the Govt a justified and immediate raise in their stipend.
