King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, has ordered an increase in the monthly salary of medical interns. The new salary will now be SR9,200 per month, Dr. Khalid Al-Anqari, Minister of Higher Education, said in Riyadh Sunday. Earlier the monthly salary of a resident doctor was SR10,000 which was reduced in 2005 to around SR6,000. Since then the Shoura Council had been discussing an increase in the salaries. Mohammed Sadiq, an intern, applauded the King's decision and said the increase “would encourage us to work hard.” He said medical interns deserve the increase in view of their long working hours and the nature of their job. “We were waiting for years to get our salaries increased, I'm glad it finally happened,” he added. Rayan Karkadan, who will be a medical intern this coming August, said he was happy about the increase. “With the high cost of living, SR6,000 is not enough but now the increase is very good,” he said. Osman Radwi, who has three more months left for his internship, said he may not be able to benefit from the King's order. The hike in the pay should be with retrospective effect, he said. “Of course we are happy at the salary increase, but would be glad if compensation is paid to us for the past nine months.” __
