Hyderabad: The Telangana Teaching Government Doctors Association (TTGDA) held its General Body Meeting on January 7 with participation from many teaching doctors representing government medical colleges across the State.
Members discussed a range of long-pending service, administrative and infrastructure-related issues affecting teaching faculty.
Demand for peripheral medical college allowance
Members unanimously demanded the introduction of a Peripheral Medical College Allowance for all government medical colleges outside Hyderabad. They stated that this should be on the lines of the Rural Service Allowance recommended by the Parliamentary Standing Committee.
Doctors pointed out that the existing tribal-area grading system ‘does not reflect ground realities,’ noting that remote colleges such as Asifabad and Bhupalpally are excluded under the current classification.
Transfers and special transfer policy
The General Body strongly demanded a special transfer policy and immediate conduct of transfers. Members said the recent transfer counselling ‘failed to deliver justice,’ even to faculty members with more than nine years of service.
Separate pay scales for teaching faculty
Faculty expressed dissatisfaction with the present UGC pay scales, stating that teaching doctors are ‘neither fully governed by State service rules nor granted complete UGC norms and benefits.’ They reiterated the demand for separate and appropriate pay scales for government medical teaching faculty.
Earned leave encashment and pending dues
Members demanded parity in Earned Leave (EL) encashment, noting that while the State Government has extended this benefit to NIMS faculty, teaching doctors in government medical colleges have been excluded.
There was ‘widespread anxiety regarding retirement benefits,’ with members demanding direct credit of GPF and CPS contributions to individual accounts for transparency and financial control. The association also demanded immediate clearance of pending UGC and DA arrears.
Infrastructure and funding concerns
The meeting flagged serious infrastructure deficiencies in most teaching hospitals. Members stated that ‘basic medicines, consumables and laboratory reagents required for routine patient care are often unavailable.’
While the government is investing in high-end equipment, doctors said ‘low-cost essential infrastructure is being neglected.’
Members also pointed out that Aarogyasri funds have not been released for the last three years, severely affecting service delivery.
Acute faculty shortage
The association highlighted severe faculty shortages across medical colleges. During recent Senior Resident allotments, most candidates opted out, 32 out of 40 in GMC Asifabad, while none joined GMC Bhupalpally.
Despite this, members objected to continued deputation of faculty to VVP hospitals, citing cases such as deputations from Jagityal to Vemulavada despite minimal staff strength at Jagityal.
Administrative appointments
Members demanded that vertical experience be given priority over horizontal experience while making administrative appointments.
Extra administrative and non-academic burden
Faculty reported being burdened with multiple additional responsibilities, including SADARAM certification, teaching AHS courses, health camps and other administrative duties, ‘without additional manpower, incentives or structural support.’
Doctors said they are ‘often unfairly blamed for systemic failures,’ citing incidents such as the SADARAM certification issue in Khammam, where doctors are expected to examine up to 10 cases per day.
In several colleges, Pediatric departments are managing SNCUs and PICUs without additional sanctioned faculty, including at GMC Khammam.
Other issues raised
Doctors working in Maheshwaram reported a lack of clarity regarding eligibility for GHMC HRA and Rural Service Allowance.
Members noted that an increasing number of faculty are considering Voluntary Retirement (VRS) due to prolonged unresolved grievances. Serious difficulties in obtaining approved study leave, even for super-speciality and higher academic pursuits, were also highlighted, with members stating this is ‘adversely affecting academic growth.’
Demands for absorptions, promotions and recruitment
The General Body unanimously demanded immediate conduct of absorptions, promotions and fresh recruitment.
Members expressed concerns regarding the implementation of the Career Advancement Scheme, particularly at the designated professor level.
One-day collective activity for solutions
Members reiterated their ‘strong faith in TTGDA leadership’ while collectively demanding a “more aggressive and decisive approach” to resolve long-pending issues.
Many members proposed a one-day collective activity in Hyderabad as a focused step towards achieving time-bound solutions.
The association said the place and time for the activity would be decided soon in the General Council and Executive Council meetings.
The State team concluded by appealing for collective participation, stating, “We wish that every teaching doctor would be involved in activities towards achieving our goals. One for all, all for one.”
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