Hyderabad: Dr NTR University bars 27 medicos from Telangana to take final year exam

Hyderabad: Inviting another conflicting situation between Telangana and AP is the recent decision by the Dr NTR University of Health Sciences (NTRUHS) to bar 27 women medicos from taking their final exams. These medicos have been pursuing their PG medical courses in 3-different Telangana-based medical colleges. The reason for barring the students from the final exam is the shortage of attendance.

In an order issued to principals of Osmania Medical College (OMC), Gandhi Medical College (GMC) and Kakatiya Medical College (KMC) in the first week of May (copies of which are available with ToI), D Vijay Kumar, controller of examinations, NTRUHS, said that these 27 medicos had fallen short of the mandatory 80 per cent attendance required each year.

Reacting to the decision, a final-year woman medico from OMC in her statement to press implied that medicos who have taken maternity leave are the only ones barred from appearing for the final exam. Her allegation also implied that 400 PG students from the 3 colleges have been given permission to sit for the final exam, even when they participated in a 62-day strike earlier. While the maternity leave of 120 days is reported fall of attendance, the Telangana Junior Doctors' Association led strike has been treated as special casual leave.

The 27 medicos barred from three medical colleges are as follows: 18 from OMC, seven from GMC and two from KMC.

TJUDA members had reported strike from September 29, 2014, till November, 29, 2014, during which the state-run hospitals work was paralyzed. They were protesting against compulsory rural service. Later, the Telangana government issued a formal notice that the strike period will be considered as special casual leave without stipend.

However, Telangana health department had taken a step to reverse its policy of compulsory one-year government service for MBBS graduates. In its recent decision, MBBS students have been granted exemption from the mandatory one-year government service; earlier considered necessary for registering with the Telangana State Medical Council.

It was reported by medicaldialogues earlier that the previously undivided state of Andhra Pradesh had brought this rule into practice. The, then state government, had formulated the A.P. Medical Practitioners Registration Act, 2013 under which they made this one-year rural posting mandatory, after amending the A.P. Medical Practitioners Registration Act, 1968. Following this the MBBS students had been to undergo this special rural service of one year before they could get themselves registered. The act was also applicable to the PG degree/diploma/super speciality holders. These students, after having served in rural areas, were allowed to register with A.P. Medical Council.

"NTR varsity authorities seem to have no respect for memo 2289C12016 issued by the Telangana government despite a copy being marked to the registrar," said Dr G Srinivas, president, TJUDA to TOI. "If these 27 medicos are not permitted to take the final-year exams, they will have to wait for six more months to take the supplementary exams," he said.However, Dr T Ravi Raju, VC of NTRUHS, defended the varsity's stance. But when asked how women PG medicos could have fallen short of attendance despite rules allowing maternity leave, he said, "If some students have issues, they can (make a) represent(ation) us."