State changes name of Dr NTR University of Health Sciences, NMC intervention sought for retaining old name

Vijayawada: The recent decision of Andhra Pradesh Government of changing the name of Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences has initiated a major controversy and now Telugu Dasam Party MP Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar has demanded the intervention of National Medical Commission for retaining the previous name of the university.

Claiming that the State changed the name of the University to Dr. YSR University of Health Sciences without consulting the university alumni or seeking public opinion. He mentioned that this was a political move to "settle" scores and also opined that the change of name was a direct insult to NTR.

Writing to the NMC chairman in this regard, the TDP MP has requested the Apex medical body to retain the old name of the university in the interest of the "brand value of the institution and the difficulties it would cause to the University alumni and students."

Recently the University announced about its change of name and issuing a notice in this regard, the Registrar of the University Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao stated, "The Government of Andhra Pradesh renamed Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences as "Dr. YSR University of Health Sciences" by amending sub section 2 of section 1 of Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences (Amendment) Act, 2022."

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"The Act No. 19 of 2022 was published in extraordinary issue of the Andhra Pradesh Gazette No.19 Part-IV-B, dt. 28. 10.2022. The Government of Andhra Pradesh by exercising the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of Section 1 of the Dr. NTR University of Heath Sciences (Amendment) Act, 2022 (Act. No 19 of 2022) has ordered that the above change of name to be effective from 31st October, 2022," further read the notification.

"All the Heads of respective Institutions/ Departments are hereby requested to record this change in all the records with reference to Dr. YSR University of Health Sciences," it added.

As per the latest media report by The Hindu, this move has been criticized by Telugu Dasam Party (TDP) MP and senior advocate Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar who has sought NMC intervention for retaining the previous name of the university.

Writing to the NMC Chairman, Suresh Chandra Sharma, Mr. Kumar alleged that the Government took such an important decision of changing the name without consulting the University alumni or seeking public opinion.

He referred to the fact that established in 1986, NTR University is one of its kind and it has gained immense brand value over the time. At such a juncture, changing such a well recognised name of the university has shocked the students and the medical fraternity in general.

Apart from this, Mr. Kumar also informed the NMC chairman that the University alumni was extremely worried over the possible adverse effect of the name change of the institute. He also mentioned how it would be difficult for the students to making changes in their records to the new name and convince other institutes regarding the name change.

He also stated that conceived by the later NTR, the University had been set up with an aim to impart quality education and services by bringing all other related institutes under one roof for a clear policy direction and standards. Thousands of students who graduated from the University were occupying key positions in medical field across the country and abroad, he said.

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