Doctors oppose changes to Telangana Medical Council, warn of State-wide protests against G.O. 229

Medical associations across Telangana warned of State-wide democratic protests and legal action, including judicial review, if the Telangana government does not immediately withdraw G.O. Ms. No. 229, which provides for the appointment of additional ex-officio members to the Telangana Medical Council (TGMC).

At a joint press conference held at the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Telangana branch office in Hyderabad on Monday, January 5, representatives of several doctors’ bodies objected to what they termed the backdoor entry of non-doctors and bureaucrats, including IAS officers, into a professional regulatory body that requires clinical accountability.

The opposition is being jointly organised by the Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA), Indian Medical Association Telangana State Branch, Telangana Junior Doctors Association (T-JUDA), Telangana Senior Residents Doctors Association (T-SRDA) and the Telangana Teaching Government Doctors Association (TTGDA).

G.O. Ms. No. 229, issued by Health Secretary Christina Z. Chongthu on December 22, provides for the appointment of eight ex-officio members to the TGMC, of whom three are IAS officers, while the remaining are heads of various medical departments.

At present, the TGMC has a total strength of 25 members, comprising 13 elected representatives, six government-nominated members, two university nominees and four ex-officio members. With the issuance of the new government order, the council’s strength effectively rises to 29, as many of the eight ex-officio members named in the order were already part of the council.

“This change upsets the existing balance within the council. Even with 29 members, the number of elected representatives remains at 13, while government-nominated and ex-officio members together increase to 16, creating a clear imbalance,” said V. Ashok, general secretary of the IMA Telangana State.

Nagula Karthik, president of HRDA, said that in 2023, the Telangana High Court had clearly stated that elected members must remain in a decisive majority to preserve the autonomy, independence and statutory purpose of the Medical Council.