Telangana doctors demand special allowance, oppose limiting to only 5 medical colleges

The memo pertained to a proposal for the sanction of 50% of basic pay as an incentive to teaching faculty working in government medical colleges and hospitals in tribal areas.

However, the Telangana Government Doctors Association (TGGDA) has criticised the move and has expressed its disappointment, stating the government is ignoring its own earlier assurances.

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According to the association, all 10 newly sanctioned medical colleges were originally expected to receive remote-area or underserved-area allowances due to staffing shortages, lack of facilities and difficult working conditions. The association said this selective implementation contradicts government documents as well as assurances given by the Cabinet Sub-Committee.

"The government had sanctioned 10 new medical colleges in a single phase, and all 10 were initially listed for remote-area or underserved-area allowances. Limiting the benefit to only five, they argued, creates an artificial distinction between tribal and non-tribal colleges, even though the remaining institutions also suffer from staffing shortages and challenging working conditions," the association told The Hindu. 

“The pay difference between a doctor in a place like Hyderabad and his/her counterpart in remote or tribal regions is quite substantial. The doctor in Hyderabad earns anywhere from Rs 40,000 to Rs 60,000 more, compared to another doctor of the same seniority posted in districts,” senior doctors in Hyderabad on Tuesday said.

“The Cabinet Sub-Committee has clearly stated in writing that the State Government is committed to extending allowances to all remote new medical colleges. These allowances should not be limited to tribal institutions alone. The senior faculty at all the newly established medical colleges in Telangana must receive them,” the TGGDA said.

Doctors familiar with the development pointed out that providing special allowances to doctors in remote and peripheral regions would impose an additional financial burden of Rs 200 crore per year on the State government. “At present, there are no indications that the State government is ready to take responsibility for this additional burden,” they said.

Teaching faculty posted in districts already earn around Rs 30,000 less per month than colleagues in the capital due to HRA disparities. The Telangana Teaching Government Doctors Association (TTGDA) said this pay gap is discouraging doctors from taking up or continuing postings in peripheral medical colleges.

For this, the association has renewed its appeal to the State government to introduce a ‘Peripheral Medical College Allowance’ for all colleges located outside the city.

The association further stated, "The lack of HRA parity has created a persistent disadvantage for doctors serving in rural and underserved regions. The disparity has become a key reason why many faculty members decline or leave positions in peripheral government medical colleges, weakening both medical education and healthcare services in districts. Several States, including Andhra Pradesh, already offer special allowances to doctors serving in difficult-to-access or peripheral areas. Telangana should adopt a similar policy to retain faculty and improve stability in its newer and remote medical colleges."

Both TGGDA and TTGDA have urged the state government to immediately start providing special allowances to all 32 government medical colleges in the state to solve the disparity. 

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