Telangana’s public healthcare system is facing a set of unresolved administrative and funding issues, with government doctors asking the health minister to fill vacant district medical officer posts, clear promotions and release pending Aarogyasri payments to government hospitals.
The Telangana Government Doctors Association (TGGDA) raised the issues during a meeting with Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha on Sunday. In a representation submitted to the minister, the association sought the early appointment of a commissioner for the Directorate of Secondary Health Services (DSHS), sanctioning of the remaining 14 district medical and health officer (DMHO) posts, and promotions for eligible civil surgeons.
The minister told the delegation that a DSHS commissioner would be appointed in the first week of October, according to the association. The appointment is among the key administrative demands because the directorate is responsible for overseeing secondary-level public health services in the state.
The doctors also sought the expedited promotion of additional directors in the Directorate of Medical Education and eligible professors. These demands cover both the state’s secondary health administration and its medical education system, linking staffing decisions with the management of government hospitals and related institutions.
The association separately urged the government to immediately release pending Aarogyasri funds to government hospitals. Aarogyasri is Telangana’s publicly funded health insurance scheme, under which hospitals provide treatment to eligible beneficiaries. The TGGDA said the pending payments were essential for uninterrupted patient care and the smooth functioning of government hospitals.
The funding request places the financial relationship between the state’s health insurance programme and public hospitals at the centre of the doctors’ representation. While the report does not specify the total amount pending or the number of hospitals affected, the association said delays in releasing the funds could affect hospital operations and patient services.
TGGDA president Dr B Narahari said the minister had assured the association that the issues would be resolved at the earliest. He also said the minister had promised to convene a special meeting with the TGGDA shortly to discuss all pending matters comprehensively.
The next stated steps are the appointment of the DSHS commissioner in the first week of October and the proposed special meeting between the health department and the doctors’ association. The government’s response on the 14 remaining DMHO posts, pending promotions and Aarogyasri fund releases is yet to be detailed.
