Posted By :  Admin1

Doctors and medical associations in Telangana have strongly criticised a recent Government Order (GO Ms No. 229) that expands the composition of the Telangana Medical Council (TGMC), warning of possible state-wide protests if the move isn’t reversed. The order increases the council’s strength from 25 to 29 members by adding four additional ex-officio positions, many of which are held by bureaucrats and non-medical officials. 

Medical bodies such as the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Telangana State Resident Doctors Association (TSRDA), Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA) and the Telangana Junior Doctors Association (T-JUDA) argue that the inclusion of multiple non-doctor members undermines the statutory autonomy and professional independence of the TGMC. They maintain that the council — responsible for regulating medical education, licensing and professional standards — should remain predominantly led by qualified doctors. 

Critics of the order contend that the expansion artificially alters the balance of power within the council, diminishing the influence of elected medical representatives and increasing bureaucratic control. The associations argue this could weaken the council’s ability to oversee professional conduct and uphold high standards in the medical profession, and call the government's action contrary to the spirit of the Telangana Medical Practitioners Registration Act, 1968. 

In response, doctors’ groups have demanded the immediate withdrawal of GO 229. Some have warned of legal action and large-scale democratic protests, including possible strikes across the state, if the government fails to address their concerns. They also plan coordinated advocacy and legal efforts through newly formed joint action committees to press their demands. 

The government has yet to issue a formal response to these warnings, but the dispute reflects wider tensions between medical professionals and the state over governance and regulatory control in healthcare institutions.