6 Interim Members of AP Medical Council Sworn In

Vijayawada: Six newly appointed interim members of the Andhra Pradesh Medical Council took their oath yesterday at Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences. Health Minister Y. Satya Kumar Yadav, the chief guest for the ceremony, administered the oath and congratulated them on their new roles.

The newly sworn-in members are Dr. Gogineni Sujatha, MD (Pulmonology) and Professor at Pinnamaneni Siddhartha Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Foundation, Vijayawada; Dr. Kalavakollu Venkata Subba Naidu, Professor of Pulmonology from Ongole; Dr. Daggumati Srihari Rao, a Radiologist and former Vice-Chairman of APSMC, Tirupati; Dr. Swarma Geetha, a Gynecologist from Podili, Prakasam district; Dr. S. Kesava Rao Babu, President of IMA, Vijayawada; and Dr. Chunduri Malliswari, a Doctor of Medicine from Bhimavaram.

Also read- AP constitutes 6-member Interim Medical Council

Medical Dialogues recently reported that after a prolonged wait, the State government has officially constituted a six-member interim Medical Council through Government Order G.O. RT No. 162. The formation of the council has been a long-standing demand, especially from Foreign Medical Graduates (FMG), who have been pushing for its creation.

For over 10 months, since the TDP-led NDA government assumed office, the state had been operating without a medical council. Normally, the A.P. Medical Council consists of around 25 members, including both nominated and elected representatives. The absence of a regulatory body had created uncertainty for medical professionals, particularly in matters of registration and professional oversight,

According to the latest order, the newly established interim Medical Council falls under the State Medical Council as per Section 3(2)(c) of the A.P. Medical Practitioners Registration Act, 1986. It will function until a full-fledged A.P. Medical Council is formally constituted. Health Special Chief Secretary M.T. Krishna Babu stated that the appointed members would soon select a chairperson from among themselves.

Speaking at the event, Minister Yadav emphasized the importance of following the National Medical Commission’s guidelines for doctor registration and exhorted the medical professionals to uphold moral values.

As per The Hans India news report, the Minister advised doctors to renew their registrations every five years, stressing that this requirement is mandatory. He urged doctors to adhere to moral values, noting a widespread perception that the medical profession has become overly commercialised. 

He called on them to work towards dispelling this notion. The minister also expressed concern over the unnecessary prescription of antibiotics and ordering of costly medical tests that burden patients financially.

He stressed the importance of doctors maintaining ethical values, avoiding unnecessary diagnostic procedures, and prioritising normal deliveries over unwarranted C-sections. He called on both government and private practitioners to focus on patient welfare and build trust through humane interactions, TNIE reports. 

Also read- Andhra appoints members of Medical Council