Osmania Medical College student death sparks protest over work pressure

The death of a first-year postgraduate doctor at Osmania Medical College has triggered protests and raised concerns over work pressure and mental health. While family alleges harassment, officials deny receiving complaints and attribute no undue workload

Hyderabad: The death by suicide of Dr Suresh Katravath, a first-year postgraduate at Osmania Medical College (OMC), has sparked intense protests from family and friends, reigniting a debate over the mental health of resident doctors and the high-pressure culture enforced by seniors and faculty.

Dr Suresh died by suicide on April 16 in the PG hostel on the Osmania Medical College campus. Following the incident, the Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA) gave a call to prioritise mental health and emotional well-being among medical professionals.

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Family members and friends have since alleged that Dr Suresh was under work pressure at Osmania General Hospital and Medical College. The family also alleged inhumane working hours, ragging and the vindictive nature of some faculty members.

On Saturday, Director of Medical Education (DME) (Academic), Dr K Shiva Ram Prasad, and Principal of Osmania Medical College, Dr Raja Rao, maintained that they had not received any complaint about harassment by seniors from any of the first-year PG students, including Dr Suresh. “His family alleged that Dr Suresh was not allowed to attend counselling. This is not possible because Dr Suresh joined Osmania Medical College through the Central quota and counselling,” the DME (Academic) said.

Senior health officials said Dr Suresh had roughly 76 to 78 days of duty, out of which he attended only 52 to 54 days. “Given this fact, there is no chance of Dr Suresh being forced to overwork or being exposed to undue work pressure,” senior health officials maintained.

Meanwhile, T-JUDA (Telangana Junior Doctors Association) and Osmania JUDA organised a condolence meeting in memory of Dr Suresh and expressed solidarity with the bereaved family, colleagues and loved ones.