Why government doctors in Telangana are protesting over transfer process

Government doctors in Telangana suspended outpatient services on Friday, alleging that health authorities are bypassing G.O. Ms No. 38, the official framework for employee transfers. The associations claim arbitrary guidelines and opaque online processes are denying rural doctors fair opportunities.

Hyderabad: At the heart of the ongoing protests by government doctors in Telangana, which led to the suspension of outpatient services on Friday, are allegations that the State Health Department is failing to properly implement G.O. Ms.No. 38, which is an official framework issued by the Finance Department to regulate state employee transfers.

Telangana Government Doctors Association (TGGDA) and Telangana Teaching Government Doctors Association (TTGDA) allege that the Directorate of Medical Education (DME), Directorate of Public Health (DPH), and Telangana Vaidya Vidhana Parishad (TVVP) are attempting to bypass the rules of G.O. Ms. 38 by introducing arbitrary guidelines.

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The TGGDA alleges that doctors who have served for years in rural or peripheral areas are being denied fair opportunities due to these sudden administrative changes.

According to the protesting doctors, health officials have attempted to redefine ‘focal’ (preferred/prime locations) versus ‘non-focal’ (peripheral/rural locations) posts. They warned health authorities against changing these definitions, stating that such changes have the potential to breed discrimination, favouritism, and widespread resentment across the state’s medical framework.

While the State government has moved the transfer process online, doctors are experiencing a trust deficit due to technical issues.

According to TGGDA, the web portals do not display all existing or upcoming vacancies clearly. Consequently, the associations are demanding offline, physical face-to-face counselling to maintain transparency.

Another major demand of the government doctors is the protection of the interests of long-serving doctors in rural areas. The TTGDA pointed out that during the 2024 transfer cycle, many city-based doctors were shifted to peripheral areas. Under the spirit of G.O. 38, those who have spent years serving the rural public are now legally entitled to return to Hyderabad or nearby zones—an opportunity they claim is currently being stalled by administrative delays.

“Doctors working in rural areas should not face mandatory, forced shifting unless they voluntarily ask for it or another doctor steps up to take that specific posting. We need transparency, not sudden, selective rule changes behind closed doors,” said Dr. B. Narahari, State President, TGGDA.