A recent survey reveals significant faculty shortages in Telangana’s government medical colleges, impacting student training. The Telangana Senior Resident Doctors Association (TSRDA) study found 26 departments have no faculty. Another 31 departments operate with only one teacher.
Faculty Shortage Across Telangana Medical Colleges
The survey, conducted in late January, examined faculty status in approximately 400 departments across 36 government medical colleges (GMCs) in Telangana. It highlighted that 26 departments lack professors, associate professors, and assistant professors. In these cases, senior residents are managing the academic responsibilities.
An additional 31 departments reported having only a single faculty member. These shortages are most prevalent in non-clinical disciplines. Subjects like anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and forensic medicine are severely affected.
Some clinical departments also face critical staffing issues. Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology (DVL) and Radiology at GMC Jogulamba Gadwal have only senior residents. Radiology at GMC Khammam also relies solely on senior residents. These colleges have significant student intakes.
Around 100 departments lack professors, the most senior academic rank. Nearly 200 departments are without associate professors. About 90 departments have no assistant professors, and 16 are without senior residents.
Newer Colleges Face Highest Staffing Gaps
Newer medical colleges established across Telangana are experiencing the most severe faculty deficits. These institutions were often upgraded from district and area hospitals.
| Medical College | Number of Empty Departments |
|---|---|
| GMC Jayashankar Bhupalpally | 4 |
| GMC Jogulamba Gadwal | 3 |
| GMC Kodangal | 3 |
| GMC Medak | 1 |
| GMC Jagtial | 1 |
| GMC Nirmal | 1 |
| GMC Mahabubabad | 1 |
| GMC Suryapet | 1 |
| GMC Ramagundam | 1 |
| GMC Asifabad | 1 |
| GMC Nagarkurnool | 1 |
| GMC Narayanpet | 1 |
Most senior medical faculty remain concentrated in established institutions like Osmania Medical College, Gandhi Medical College, and Kakatiya Medical College.
National Medical Commission Norms Ignored
The faculty numbers fall short of National Medical Commission (NMC) requirements. The NMC’s (Minimum Standard Requirements) for Establishment of New Medical College/Increase of seats in MBBS Course) Guidelines, 2023, mandate two to four faculty members per department for a 50-student batch.
These guidelines require at least one faculty member at each academic level and a senior resident for most departments. Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000, require at least three faculty members for broad and super-specialty disciplines.
Senior residents emphasized that experienced faculty are vital for academic supervision, curriculum development, examinations, postgraduate training, and NMC inspections. Their absence risks college approval and postgraduate program initiation.
A lack of entry-level staff impacts teaching, internal assessments, and laboratory supervision. The TSRDA report warns that these situations are academically unsustainable. They place extreme workload pressure on junior faculty.
Many departments rely on temporary contractual staff. Some departments are entirely managed by contract appointees.
Rapid Expansion Without Adequate Staffing
Telangana has rapidly increased its medical colleges. Until 2021, the state had 34 colleges. Over the last four years, 32 new colleges were added.
This expansion aimed for at least one government medical college per district, a goal achieved in 2024. The NMC relaxed its 2023 guidelines to facilitate this growth. The regulator had previously issued notices for non-compliance but allowed colleges to operate.
The TSRDA urged the government to address the faculty deficit. “Addressing these gaps is vital for maintaining high standards in medical training,” stated D Srinath, TSRDA president. He added it ensures better healthcare outcomes and supports medical student development.