Jadcherla hospital suspension row: TGGDA defends staff, demands infrastructure fix

Telangana Government Doctors Association (TGGDA) has sharply criticised the suspension of medical staff at Jadcherla Area Hospital, arguing that poor infrastructure and delays in handing over the mortuary are to blame for the shocking incident where a stray dog allegedly mutilated a dead body.

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

The incident, which was caught on video and was 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 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 the right kind of infrastructure to store the dead bodies.

Supporting the suspended health staff, TGGDA said that the State government’s action was a move to find a sacrificial lamb rather than fixing 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 was not 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 points to a deeper disease within the state’s healthcare administration characterized by excessive centralisation.

The TGGDA claimed that government hospitals in Telangana are fighting a daily war with rusted equipment and outdated machinery due to procurement delays.

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