Doctors unwilling to join new posts, issued notices

Hyderabad: In a month and a half, the state health department has issued show-cause notices to 30 associate professors who failed to join their new posts after being promoted to the post of professor. Many of these doctors were posted in remote areas and in the absence of a special allowance, they chose not to take up their new posts. As a result, doctors' associations are calling on the government to allow a one-off option to forgo promotion.
In recent promotions, doctors were not given the option of declining promotion, nor were their location preferences taken into account, despite being asked to do so. "This resulted in many professors not taking up their new posts. In the past, when there were only five medical colleges, transfers were limited. But with the establishment of medical colleges in 33 districts, promotions now often involve transfers to remote locations, further complicating the issue," said Dr Kiran Madhala, state general secretary of the Telangana Teaching Govt Doctors Association (TTGDA), which is demanding a change in policy.
He noted that in the last promotion cycle for professors, doctors were not allowed to opt out, even in cases of serious health concerns or reluctance to relocate.
Meanwhile, the Telangana Govt Doctors Association (TGGDA) has submitted a formal representation to the state govt, demanding that the option to waive promotions be reinstated.
Doctors argue that current postings are illogical and arbitrary. For example, doctors posted in districts like Ramagundam are transferred to places like Medak, while those in Hyderabad are sent to places like Narsampet.
A recently promoted doctor said, "Most doctors prefer to be posted closer to their current place of work or near their hometown. While few want to move to Hyderabad, we at least expect to have options — be it through a counselling process, a selection of 2-3 choices or the option to forgo the promotion altogether."