APGDA’s Opposition Leads to Postponement of July 17 Recruitment Drive
Amaravati: The Andhra Pradesh government has postponed the proposed contract-based recruitment of 40 professors and 37 associate professors scheduled for July 17, following strong opposition from the Andhra Pradesh Government Doctors Association (APGDA). The association had urged the government to prioritize regular promotions for in-service doctors instead of hiring on a contractual basis.
One-Time Relaxation of Promotion Norms to Address Faculty Shortage
To address staffing shortages and meet National Medical Commission (NMC) requirements for MBBS admissions for the 2025–26 academic year, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu approved a one-time relaxation of promotion norms. Under this decision, associate professors with just one year of experience may be promoted to professors—significantly easing the earlier three-year requirement.
Doctors Association Cites Violation of Service Rules
In a memorandum to Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav, APGDA emphasized that the government’s recruitment plan violates service regulations, particularly G.O. No. 154, which mandates that such posts should be filled through regular promotions, and G.O. No. 21, which allows contract hiring only when no eligible candidates are available.
“In many old medical colleges, several posts were left vacant during transfers under the pretext of NMC norms. These vacancies can be easily filled through regular promotions if a proper DPC (Departmental Promotion Committee) and transparent counselling are conducted,” the association stated.
More Eligible Candidates Than Vacancies, Says APGDA
APGDA President Dr. D. Jayadheer told Medical Dialogues that most departments have more eligible candidates than sanctioned posts, rendering contractual recruitment unnecessary. The association provided department-wise vacancy data, indicating a surplus of eligible applicants in most disciplines.
Highlights from Departmental Data:
- Anaesthesia: 14 vacancies, 29 eligible candidates
- Orthopaedics: 12 vacancies, 18 candidates
- General Medicine: 8 vacancies, 16 candidates
- Surgery: 5 posts, 31 eligible individuals
- Gynaecology: 11 vacancies, 20 candidates
- Paediatrics: 9 vacancies, 20 candidates
- Microbiology: 4 vacancies, 6 candidates
- Dermatology: 14 vacancies, 16 candidates
Other departments, including Forensic Medicine, Pathology, Physiology, Biochemistry, SPM, ENT, and Radiation Oncology, also show similar trends of eligible in-service doctors being overlooked for promotion.
Doctors Call for Transparent DPC and Policy Review
The association has demanded the formation of a 1:2 ratio DPC, proper counselling sessions, and utilization of existing eligible talent within government service. They argue that a fair promotion process would not only uphold service rules but also strengthen faculty resources without needing contract appointments.
This development comes at a crucial time as the state prepares to meet faculty and infrastructure requirements for upcoming medical admissions. The government is now expected to review the recruitment policy in light of mounting pressure from its own medical workforce.
