Doctors across Telangana have announced a statewide strike to protest Government Order (GO) 229, which provides for the appointment of four additional government officers as ex officio members of the Telangana Medical Council (TGMC). As part of the protest, doctors will submit mass representations to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Chief Minister’s Office, the Union Health Ministry and the Telangana Health Department.
In the initial phase of the agitation, doctors across the state will continue wearing black badges as a symbol of protest. Medical associations stated that the Telangana Doctors’ Associations Joint Action Committee (TADA-JAC) will lead further agitation if the government fails to address their concerns.
GO 229, issued by the Telangana Health Department on December 22, 2025, nominates four government officers as ex officio members of the TGMC. Currently, the 25-member council comprises 13 elected members, six government nominees, two representatives from Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS), and four ex officio government officials. With the latest additions, the number of government-appointed ex officio members has increased to eight.
The move has triggered strong opposition, particularly among young doctors, who argue that expanding government representation undermines the council’s autonomy and weakens the role of elected members. The medical fraternity has expressed serious concern over the inclusion of non-medical professionals and bureaucrats in the regulatory body, stating that it compromises the independence, representative character and professional integrity of the council, and runs contrary to judicial principles governing autonomous professional institutions.
To oppose the order, doctors formed a new joint committee during a round-table meeting held at the IMA Hall in Koti. Representatives from several medical associations participated, including Telangana IMA, HRDA, TJUDA, T-SRDA, TDF, RDA-NIMS, NNF, ISA, IADVL, IAP, NMO, THANA, TGAFM, IRIA and IMA-JDN.
The associations unanimously condemned GO 229 and warned that the agitation would be intensified if the government remains unresponsive. Proposed measures include a phased boycott of medical services in both government and private hospitals. Legal action in the Telangana High Court is also being considered as a last resort.
While reaffirming that patient care will not be affected, doctors maintained that the independence of the Telangana Medical Council is non-negotiable. They appealed to the state government to engage in dialogue with stakeholders and withdraw the order in the larger public interest.