Hyderabad: Doctors body opposes move to hand over hospital administration to Group-I officers

The Telangana Public Health Doctors Association has opposed the State government’s plan to hand over hospital administration to Group-I officers. The association said only doctors can understand patients’ needs and urged the government to professionalise hospital management instead

Hyderabad: The members of the Telangana Public Health Doctors Association (TPHDA) on Wednesday strongly opposed the State government’s proposal to hand over the administration of government hospitals to Group-I officers who are non-doctors.

The TPHDA, which represents senior doctors and residents in government and private hospitals across Telangana, especially in the field of public health, maintained that only doctors can truly understand patients’ physical, mental and emotional needs and make decisions with empathy.

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“We appeal to the State government to study hospital administration policies being implemented by reputed health care institutions in various states and take decisions accordingly. According to global research and India’s Bhore Committee, hospital administration should not be treated like ordinary administration,” the members of TPHDA said.

The Bhore Committee recommended that hospital governance be led by doctors, a principle followed at AIIMS, where hospital administration departments established under this model have contributed to success and prestige.

The association said administrative powers of doctors should not be curtailed. Instead, hospital administration should be professionalised. It called for setting up hospital administration departments in government teaching hospitals with official recognition for PG courses. Doctors interested in hospital administration should be encouraged to pursue specialised courses like MD Hospital Administration to improve skills and ensure better hospital management, the TPHDA added.