Government Doctor Association President Narahari condemned
Article Today, Hyderabad:
Government hospitals across Telangana are facing severe infrastructure problems, especially frequent power cuts, which are putting patients’ lives at risk. A recent incident at Zaheerabad Area Hospital in Sangareddy district has triggered widespread public outrage after doctors were seen treating patients using mobile phone flashlights due to a sudden power failure. The visuals, which went viral on social media, prompted immediate action from the state health department, leading to the suspension of the hospital’s in-charge superintendent, Dr. Sridhar Kumar. However, this move has drawn sharp criticism from the Telangana Government Doctors’ Association.
Emergency in the Dark – What Happened?
The incident took place in the emergency ward of the Zaheerabad hospital, where an unexpected power outage occurred. Although the hospital was equipped with a backup generator, it wasn’t switched on in time. With no alternative light sources available, doctors were forced to continue treating patients using mobile flashlight beams. Videos of this makeshift treatment quickly spread online, drawing attention to the hospital’s poor infrastructure and administrative failure.
Immediate Action – But Was It Fair?
Following the uproar, Sangareddy district collector and officials from the Telangana Vaidya Vidhana Parishad (TVVP) conducted a joint inquiry. They found that there was a delay in operating the generator, which resulted in the dark conditions. Based on this, the health department suspended Dr. Sridhar Kumar. Additionally, new guidelines were issued to all government hospitals in the state, mandating that backup generators must be kept fully functional and ready at all times.
Doctors’ Association Speaks Out
The Telangana Government Doctors’ Association condemned the suspension, calling it unjust and demoralizing. In an official statement, Association President Dr. Narahari, Secretary General Dr. Lalu Prasad Rathod, and Treasurer Dr. M.K. Rauf argued that punishing doctors for failures in infrastructure is unfair. They emphasized that using mobile flashlights in an emergency should be seen as a sign of dedication, not negligence. They warned that blaming healthcare workers without proper investigation harms their morale and confidence. The association also highlighted that such incidents are not isolated. Similar problems occurred in the past at government hospitals like Bhuvanagiri. They demanded that responsibility for backup power systems lies with the health department, and that regular maintenance and monitoring should be institutionalized.
Call for Independent Inquiry and Infrastructure Audit
The doctors’ body demanded an independent committee to investigate such incidents and called for a comprehensive audit of infrastructure in all government hospitals. They stated that disciplinary action should only follow a fair and complete investigation, and not be based on social media outrage. The association stressed the need to strengthen the public healthcare system so that doctors can work with dignity, not fear.
This incident reflects deeper problems in the state’s healthcare system, where lack of infrastructure often forces medical professionals to work under extreme conditions. Unless these core issues are addressed, such crises will continue to repeat, putting both patients and doctors in distress.
