The Tamil Nadu Medical Council (TNMC) has issued a directive making sensitisation on transgender health and LGBTQIA+ issues compulsory for all doctors, educators, and students across the state. The move aims to ensure more inclusive healthcare practices and reduce systemic discrimination.
Mandatory Inclusion in CME Programmes
As per the circular, all Continuing Medical Education (CME) programmes must now include sessions on inclusive healthcare. Medical colleges and training centres are required to submit compliance reports to TNMC within 30 days, ensuring that the sensitisation mandate is effectively implemented.
Policy Framework and Background
This decision follows the launch of the State Policy for Transgender Persons by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, which seeks to improve the socio-economic conditions of the transgender community over the next five years. The policy also includes scholarships, nodal counsellors, short-stay homes, and a toll-free helpline.
Focus on Ending Conversion Therapy
The council has clarified that conversion therapy—any attempt to alter a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity—will be treated as professional misconduct. Medical professionals engaging in such practices may face disciplinary action, including suspension of their licences.
Training with Community Participation
The sensitisation sessions will feature best practices in medical education and clinical care, with input from members of the transgender and LGBTQIA+ communities. The goal is to foster empathy, dismantle stereotypes, and ensure equitable medical services for sexual minorities.
Step Toward Inclusive Healthcare
Officials emphasized that this initiative underscores the ethical and legal responsibilities of medical professionals. By institutionalising inclusivity within healthcare, Tamil Nadu has taken a significant step toward providing a safer, more dignified future for the transgender and LGBTQIA+ community.
