Telangana Doctors Demand Offline Counselling and Two-Year Eligibility for Transfers

Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha of Telangana assured government doctors that the upcoming transfer process within the Health Department would be conducted transparently and in strict adherence to Government Order (GO) 38. This assurance was provided during a meeting with representatives from the Telangana Government Doctors Association and the Telangana Teaching Government Doctors Association. The doctors raised significant concerns regarding the current transfer exercise, specifically demanding that eligibility for request transfers be granted to those who have completed at least two years of service at a station. They argued that existing criteria unfairly rendered many doctors in the Directorate of Medical Education, Telangana Vaidya Vidhana Parishad, and Directorate of Health services ineligible. Additionally, the associations requested the removal of mandatory shifts to rural or remote areas unless voluntarily opted for, and insisted on offline, physical counselling during the transfer process to ensure fairness and effective grievance redressal. The Minister reiterated the government's commitment to following established provisions while considering the specific operational requirements of medical colleges and hospitals, emphasizing the need for doctors' cooperation to achieve these objectives.