Junior Doctors, Senior Residents Warn Extension to 70 Years Could Delay Recruitment and Promotions
Hyderabad: A proposal to increase the retirement age of teaching faculty in Telangana’s government medical colleges from 65 years to 70 years has triggered strong opposition from junior doctors, senior residents, and young specialists, who argue that the move could adversely impact recruitment opportunities, career progression, and academic growth within the state’s medical education system.
The concerns emerged following reports that efforts are underway to persuade the Telangana government to extend the retirement age of professors and senior faculty members by an additional five years. Although the state government has not made any official announcement, several doctors’ organisations have voiced their opposition to the reported proposal.
Among the organisations raising concerns are the Telangana Senior Residents Doctors Association (T-SRDA), Telangana Junior Doctors Association (T-JUDA), Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA), and members of the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA).
Doctors Fear Career Stagnation and Reduced Job Opportunities
According to these organisations, retirements among senior faculty members are essential for creating vacancies that facilitate promotions and recruitment within the medical education system. They argue that extending the retirement age would delay promotions for assistant professors, associate professors, and professors while reducing employment opportunities for senior residents and newly qualified specialists.
In a recent social media post, T-SRDA expressed serious concern over the reported proposal, stating that the move could negatively affect the future prospects of young medical professionals.
Speaking on the issue, Dr D Srinath of T-SRDA and FAIMA said that increasing the retirement age would directly block the recruitment of young specialists, delay promotions across all academic levels, and create long-term stagnation in medical academia. He emphasised that medical education can progress only when vacancies are regularly created and fresh talent is provided opportunities to enter the system.
Recruitment Drive Needed Instead of Retirement Age Extension
Doctors’ associations have urged the Telangana government to address faculty shortages through regular recruitment drives rather than extending the service tenure of existing faculty members.
Dr Karthik Nagula of HRDA highlighted that nearly 1,900 Assistant Professor posts remain vacant across Telangana’s government medical institutions. He stressed that systematic recruitment and timely filling of vacancies are the most effective solutions to the faculty shortage issue.
The associations also pointed to delays in recruitment by the Medical and Health Services Recruitment Board (MHSRB). According to Dr Srinath, 243 of the 607 Assistant Professor posts notified in the latest recruitment drive remained unfilled, raising concerns about the efficiency of the recruitment process.
Majority of Teaching Doctors Oppose Proposal
Meanwhile, a WhatsApp-based opinion poll conducted by the Telangana Teaching Government Doctors Association (TTGDA) revealed overwhelming opposition to the proposed retirement age extension.
More than 1,000 teaching doctors participated in the survey. Of these, 921 doctors (92.1%) opposed increasing the retirement age to 70 years, while only 18 doctors (1.8%) supported the proposal. Another 61 doctors (6.1%) favoured introducing a liberal voluntary retirement scheme after the age of 61 years.
The survey was conducted under the leadership of TTGDA representatives Dr Kiran Bollepaka, Dr D Kiran Madhala, Dr L Ramesh, Dr Kiran Prakash, and Dr Manda Babu.
Statewide Protests Likely if Proposal is Implemented
With the Telangana government yet to clarify its position on the reported proposal, doctors’ associations have warned that they may launch statewide protests if the retirement age extension is approved.
The issue has intensified debate within Telangana’s medical education sector, with young doctors demanding faster recruitment, timely promotions, and improved workforce planning instead of extending the tenure of existing faculty members.
