- Doctors’ Safety and rights
- Strong Stand Against Fake Medicine
- Mounting Challenges in Healthcare
Article Today, Hyderabad:
The medical sector in Telangana is facing multiple pressures. Hospitals are grappling with regulatory burdens. At the same time, incidents of attacks on doctors and health staff have increased. Meanwhile, the spread of unqualified practitioners in rural areas has emerged as a serious public health risk. Against this backdrop, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Telangana State Action Committee has stepped in to defend the interests of doctors and patients alike.
Action Committee Takes Charge
The IMA Telangana Action Committee has assumed a central role within the organisation. Senior doctors describe it as the operational core of the State unit. The committee coordinates the functioning of local IMA branches across Telangana. In addition, it ensures that resolutions approved by the Working Committee, the Executive Committee, and the General Council are implemented on the ground.
Leadership and Structure
The committee is headed by Dr. E. Ravindra Reddy as Chairman. Dr. Dilip Bhanushali serves as Advisor, providing strategic guidance. Dr. K. Ashok Reddy and Dr. Prabhu Kumar Challagali function as Co-Chairmen. Dr. L. Laxminarayana Naik acts as Convenor and oversees coordination. Gandhi Hospital professor Dr. Kiran Madhala said this leadership structure would help the committee respond swiftly to emerging issues.
Collective Effort of Members
Several senior doctors are part of the committee’s working team. Members include Dr. M. Vasantha Rao, Dr. Samudrala Srinivas, Dr. B. Kishan Rao, Dr. Pujari Ramana, and Dr. P. Penchalaiah. In addition, Dr. N. Mallesh, Dr. Sadu Satyanarayana, Dr. Laxman Kumar, Dr. Kiran Madala, and Dr. Jaya Prasad are actively involved. Together, they engage with authorities and represent doctors’ concerns at various levels.
Small Hospitals Under Strain
The committee has raised concerns over the Clinical Establishments Act. It has argued that the law is placing severe pressure on small hospitals. Therefore, it has demanded that hospitals with up to 50 beds be exempted from the Act. According to the committee, rigid norms and high compliance costs are threatening healthcare access in rural and semi-urban areas.
Call for Doctors’ Protection
Attacks on doctors were described as a grave social concern. The committee has urged the government to enact a strong, exclusive law to protect healthcare workers. It stressed that swift punishment for offenders is essential. Only then, it said, can doctors work without fear and deliver uninterrupted care.
No Compromise on Quackery
The committee has taken a firm stand against fake medical practice. It warned that unqualified treatment is endangering lives, especially in villages. Therefore, it has called for strict action against quacks and greater public awareness. The IMA, it said, would not compromise on patient safety.
Strengthening the Association
Finally, the committee has focused on strengthening the IMA itself. It is encouraging young doctors to join the association. United action, the committee believes, is the only way to safeguard professional rights and public health. In Telangana’s healthcare landscape, the Action Committee aims to serve as a steady shield for the medical community.
