Telangana Doctors Association highlights faculty shortage in Govt Medical Colleges

The absence of qualified professors and associate professors is not only hampering the academic development of postgraduate students but also placing additional responsibilities on them to train undergraduate MBBS students. There has been almost a 50% shortage of faculty in different medical colleges across the state. In 2022, Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that there has been a report of a 50 per cent Faculty, 66 per cent Resident Doctors shortage at Telangana Medical Colleges. 

Talking to Medical Dialogues, Dr Kommu Rahul from Osmania Medical College (OMC) and president of Telangana Junior Doctors Association (TGJUDA), stated, “We have para-clinical, pre-clinical and clinical subjects in medical colleges and there has been a marked shortage of qualified professors who can guide the PG residents as for them professor is needed specially in departments like forensic and radiology. In all the departments, at least one post is vacant, and contractual professors are being relied on.”

“There has been a significant increase in the number of medical colleges over the last few years. Faculty members from OMC, GMC, and Kakatiya were transferred to the peripheral colleges in Jogulamba Gadwal, Narayanpet, and others. While several eligible doctors are awaiting transfers, the delay in appointments has left crucial teaching roles vacant. This has directly impacted the quality of clinical training provided to junior doctors, who are now compelled to assume teaching roles typically reserved for more senior faculty,” he added. He pointed out that some departments are operating without a single professor or associate professor, severely compromising the standard of education and mentorship expected in medical institutions.

The affected institutions, each housing more than 20 departments, are struggling to meet the minimum faculty requirements. As per the National Medical Council (NMC) norms, every department must be staffed with at least one professor, an associate professor, and an assistant professor. However, in prominent institutions like Osmania, Gandhi, and Kakatiya, where 250 MBBS seats and numerous postgraduate seats are sanctioned, the need for senior faculty is considerably higher. Despite this, many of the sanctioned teaching positions remain unfilled. The association has requested that the authorities resolve the issue through timely transfers and appointments to uphold the quality of medical education and proper training for the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Telangana Government Doctors Association (TGDA) had already urged the State government to ease the existing ban on faculty transfers and urgently address the shortage of professors in some of the state’s leading teaching hospitals. They also emphasized that prominent government-run institutions like Osmania Medical College, Gandhi Medical College, Kakatiya Medical College in Warangal, and the Government Medical College in Nizamabad are grappling with a serious lack of senior faculty members.