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The Hindu
27-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Telangana junior doctors to launch indefinite strike from June 30
The Telangana Junior Doctors Association (TJUDA), representing doctors across all 34 government medical colleges in the State, has announced an indefinite Statewide strike beginning June 30, citing unresolved issues related to stipends, infrastructure, and working conditions. In a letter addressed to the Director of Medical Education, Dr A. Narendra Kumar, the association stated that despite repeated representations since November 2024, their concerns have remained unaddressed. 'Junior doctors in Telangana, the backbone of the State's government hospitals, are stretched to their limits, often working more than 36 hours at a stretch under immense physical and mental strain without receiving what is rightfully due,' the letter said. The key concerns raised by the junior doctors are: Delayed stipend disbursement: Stipends for postgraduates, house surgeons, and especially senior residents have reportedly been delayed by over three months. The association has demanded the creation of a Green Channel mechanism to ensure stipend disbursement by the 10th of every month. Non-implementation of stipend hike ( Although the government issued a Government Order (GO) revising stipends effective from January 2025, the hike remains unimplemented. TJUDA is demanding an immediate implementation and disbursement of arrears from January. Inadequate infrastructure in medical colleges: The association cited the lack of basic facilities like incomplete or unopened buildings (in Nagarkurnool and Siddipet), inadequate water supply and transportation (Bhadrachalam-Kothagudem), and poor sports infrastructure (Nizamabad's lack of a playground for 12 years). They highlighted the need to include student representatives in all infrastructure review committees. Faculty shortages: TJUDA flagged the acute shortage of clinical and para-clinical teaching faculty, which they say is severely affecting both undergraduate and postgraduate education. They are calling for a regular, annual recruitment calendar and immediate hiring to meet National Medical Commission (NMC) norms. Stipend irregularities in private medical colleges: The association has also demanded government action to address violations of stipend regulations in private medical institutions, urging strict monitoring and compliance. Delayed scholarships and fee reimbursements: Students from minority, SC, ST, and BC categories are reportedly being forced to pay out-of-pocket due to delays or denial of scholarship and fee reimbursement. 'Not a single student has received full reimbursement of academic fees to date,' the letter noted. 'All undergraduates, postgraduates, house surgeons, and senior residents will participate in this strike until our genuine demands are fully met,' TJUDA stated.
The Hindu
18-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
NMC notices are part of routine process, steps underway to address gaps: Telangana DME
Telangana Director of Medical Education (DME) Dr. A. Narendra Kumar on Tuesday clarified that the show-cause notices issued to 26 government medical colleges in the State by the National Medical Commission (NMC) are part of a routine, nationwide quality review process and not a cause for concern. Earlier this month, the NMC had served notices to the colleges, highlighting deficiencies and calling for corrective action. As part of the process, the Commission has asked the Telangana Health Secretary and the DME to appear in person before it in New Delhi on June 18. In a video statement released Tuesday evening, the DME explained that such notices are issued annually to medical colleges across India, both public and private, as part of the NMC's standard inspection and assessment mechanism to ensure institutions are compliant with regulatory norms. 'In our state, we have 34 government and 29 private medical colleges, with nearly 9,000 medical students enrolled. These notices are not unprecedented. They were issued in 2022, 2023, 2024, and now again in 2025. This is a national-level quality assurance exercise aimed at improving the overall standard of medical education,' he said. Dr. Kumar said that government medical colleges, in particular, undergo periodic audits to identify and address issues such as faculty shortages, infrastructural gaps, and missing or outdated diagnostic equipment. Institutions are typically granted time to rectify these shortcomings before further action is taken. To address faculty shortfalls, the DME said the State government has already begun recruitment efforts and eased service rules to expedite appointments. On the diagnostics front, the DME said that currently, 32 out of 34 government medical colleges in Telangana are equipped with CT scan facilities. The remaining two are expected to be operational with CT scanners within the next two months. Upgrades to MRI machines, laboratory infrastructure, and other diagnostic tools are also underway to meet NMC standards.
The Hindu
04-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Sweets distributed on Telangana Formation Day suspected to be cause of food poisoning at IMH Erragadda
Sweets distributed to inmates at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Erragadda, as part of Telangana Formation Day celebrations on Monday (June 2, 2025) are suspected to have caused a major food poisoning incident that left 92 people ill, and one dead. The Non-DC ward of the hospital, where the sweets were served, reported a sudden spike in complaints of nausea, vomiting, and uneasiness shortly after 6 p.m on June 2. As of Wednesday (June 4), 74 patients remained under observation at IMH, while 18 were shifted to Osmania General Hospital for further care. Hospital officials said they are in a stable condition. On Wednesday morning, the hospital premises slowly returned to routine as doctors resumed duties and patients' attendants waited anxiously. Meanwhile, senior health officials, including Director of Medical Education A. Narendra Kumar and Telangana Vaidya Vidhana Parishad Commissioner Ajaya Kumar, visited the hospital for a detailed review and held a brief meeting with hospital superintendent Anitha Rayirala before inspecting the affected ward. Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha, who arrived at IMH to take stock of the situation, told reporters that preliminary findings suggest the sweets distributed on the occasion could be the cause. 'Initial reports indicate that the water supply is largely safe. There is a strong possibility that this was a case of food poisoning due to the sweets. We have terminated the diet contractor's services as a precautionary measure,' he said. Samples of the food and water have been collected for laboratory analysis. An internal inquiry is underway, and a detailed report is expected in the coming days, the minister said.
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Business Standard
09-05-2025
- Health
- Business Standard
Hospitals in India mark rooftops with red crosses amid tensions with Pak
Hospitals in several Indian states are painting large red cross symbols on their rooftops as a precautionary measure amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following recent cross-border strikes. The red cross is a globally recognised symbol used to denote medical facilities and is protected under the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit attacks on hospitals during war or armed conflict. By marking their buildings, hospitals aim to safeguard themselves in the event of any aerial strikes. According to reports, in Jammu and Kashmir, institutions such as the Associated Hospital and Government Medical College in Kathua have already painted the red cross symbols. In Telangana, similar measures are underway. Both government and private hospitals in Hyderabad and across the state have been instructed to paint large red crosses—12 feet by 12 feet—on white backgrounds to ensure visibility from the air, Moneycontrol reported. A. Narendra Kumar, Director of Medical Education in Telangana, said the work is being carried out by the Telangana Medical Services and Infrastructure Development Corporation. According to Deccan Chronicle, 'So far, red crosses have been painted on 164 out of 287 hospitals in the state, with the rest expected to be completed soon,' Kumar said. In Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, hospitals including Gajra Raja Medical College have also marked their rooftops. The college's dean, Dr R.K.S. Dhakad, told news agency ANI that this was part of national safety guidelines issued by the central government. #WATCH | Madhya Pradesh | Red cross symbol painted on rooftops of hospitals in Gwalior Gajra Raja Medical College Dean Dr RKS Dhakad says, "Whenever guidelines are issued with regards to national security, as can be seen in the ongoing situation against Pakistan, all the… — ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2025 'Whenever guidelines are issued with regard to national security—as is the case in the ongoing situation with Pakistan—all hospitals are marked with a red cross within a white circle, as per the Geneva Convention treaty. This ensures that hospitals are spared during attacks... In line with this, we have also painted red crosses on our hospital roofs,' Dhakad said.
