Doctors call staff suspension scapegoating in Jadcherla case

Senior doctors in Telangana opposed the suspension of medical staff after a stray dog allegedly mutilated a body at Jadcherla Area Hospital. TGGDA blamed TGMSIDC for infrastructure gaps and termed the government’s action scapegoating instead of addressing systemic failures.

Hyderabad: Senior government doctors and the medical fraternity in Telangana have expressed resentment over the State government’s decision to suspend medical staff following a disturbing incident in which a dead body was allegedly mutilated by a stray dog at the Jadcherla Area Hospital.

The incident, which was caught on video and widely circulated, sparked public outrage. Responding to the development, the State Health Department suspended four staff members, including the Hospital Superintendent, Dr K Chandrakala, and the Duty Medical Officer, alleging negligence.

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Senior office-bearers of Telangana Government Doctors Association (TGGDA) on Wednesday blamed Telangana State Medical Infrastructure Development Corporation (TGMSIDC) for not providing proper infrastructure to store dead bodies.

Supporting the suspended health staff, TGGDA said that the State government’s action was an attempt to find a scapegoat rather than fix the system.

Senior doctors said that Superintendent of the Jadcherla Area Hospital, Dr K Chandrakala, on April 30, 2025, addressed a letter to TGMSIDC Executive Engineer stating that the newly constructed mortuary had not been handed over and requested essential equipment such as three-body freezers to safely store remains, a mortuary table and lockers for viscera.

Senior doctors emphasised that a doctor or nurse can only be as effective as the infrastructure provided to them, and if the system fails to provide a door that locks or a freezer that works, the accountability lies with the TGMSIDC infrastructure wing. The TGGDA pointed to a deeper issue within the state’s healthcare administration marked by excessive centralisation.

The TGGDA claimed that government hospitals in Telangana are fighting a daily struggle with rusted equipment and outdated machinery due to procurement delays.

Senior health authorities are yet to respond to the letter written by the suspended Superintendent to TGMSIDC, which has surfaced in the last few days.