Minister to be asked about intern salaries

The Minister of Health will face questions from the FNC about the dozens of medical interns who went for seven months without pay.

ABU DHABI // The Minister of Health will face questions from the FNC today about the dozens of medical interns who went for seven months without pay.

It follows complaints sent to the FNC from more than 80 interns at hospitals in the Northern Emirates.

Unlike last year's interns, who received Dh15,000 a month, the current batch have not been paid at all.

Last week the minister, Dr Abdul Rahman Al Owais, said they would receive about Dh11,000 a month, half of the salary of a newly qualified doctor, backdated to January.

Interns working for Health Authority - Abu Dhabi receive about Dh30,000 a month.

Sheikha Al Owais (Sharjah) will ask Mr Al Owais whether he considers the new package adequate, or whether more incentives are needed for Emirati interns.

"The intern doctor, yes first year in practice and they are supervised, but they still perform all other practices like any other doctor," Dr Al Owais said.

Other questions today include those from Abdulrahim Al Shahin (Ras Al Khaimah) about the delay in establishing a council to control customs, and from Abdullah Al Shamsi (Ajman) about military pensions.

The session will start at 9am and is open to the public.