TNGDA and SDPGA have opposed the reported proposal to appoint an IAS officer as Commissioner of the Directorate of Medical Education (DME).
Doctors' associations say the DME has been led by senior government doctors for nearly four decades and warn the move could weaken professional leadership.
The associations have urged the Tamil Nadu government to withdraw the proposal and warned of statewide protests if it moves forward.
The reported plan to appoint an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer as Commissioner of the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) in Tamil Nadu has been opposed by two leading doctors' associations, which argue that the post should continue to be held by senior government doctors. The Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association (TNGDA) and the Service Doctors and Post Graduates Association (SDPGA) have urged the State government to retain the existing system of appointing experienced medical professionals to lead the DME.
According to The Hindu, both associations have submitted representations to the Health Secretary seeking the withdrawal of the reported move. The Tamil Nadu government has not issued any official order or publicly confirmed the proposal.
In a representation to the Health Secretary, the Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association (TNGDA) urged the State government to drop the reported proposal, stating that the Directorate of Medical Education has been led by senior government doctors based on seniority for nearly four decades. The association said the existing system has helped sustain medical education and public healthcare despite shortages of staff, infrastructure, and funding.
According to The Hindu, TNGDA President Dr. A. Srinivasan and General Secretary Dr. T. Kanagarajan said appointing an IAS officer to head the DME would be "counterproductive" because it could compel rather than motivate government doctors. They also warned that the association would join other medical organizations in statewide protests if the proposal is not withdrawn.
The Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association (TNGDA) and the Service Doctors and Post Graduates Association (SDPGA) argued that the Directorate of Medical Education should continue to be headed by senior government doctors, saying the post requires experience in medical education and the administration of government medical institutions.
The Service Doctors and Post Graduates Association (SDPGA) also noted that several key bodies in Tamil Nadu's Health Department—including the Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society, Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project, National Health Mission (Tamil Nadu), Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation, and the Medical Services Recruitment Board—are already headed by IAS officers. Citing this, SDPGA President Dr. P. Saminathan said, "We strongly condemn this move," adding that appointing another IAS officer would further reduce doctors' role in healthcare administration.
Alongside opposing the reported proposal, the Service Doctors and Post Graduates Association (SDPGA) urged the Tamil Nadu government to address the shortage of government doctors. According to The Hindu, SDPGA President Dr. P. Saminathan said the medical workforce has not expanded in proportion to the state's growing public healthcare network.
Dr. Saminathan noted that the number of government doctors has increased from about 8,000 in 2000 to around 20,000, while the state's healthcare infrastructure has grown from 13 government medical colleges to 36, alongside nearly 270 government hospitals and more than 2,000 primary health centres (PHCs). He urged the government to create more doctor posts in line with patient demand and the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) recommendations to strengthen the Health Department.
The Tamil Nadu government has not issued any official order or confirmed the reported move to appoint an IAS officer as Commissioner of the Directorate of Medical Education. Meanwhile, TNGDA and SDPGA continue to press for the existing practice of appointing senior government doctors to lead the Directorate.
Both associations have warned that they will launch statewide protests if the proposal is implemented. The government's decision will determine whether the long-standing practice of appointing senior government doctors to lead the Directorate continues.
(Rh/TP/MSM)