The announcement of bifurcation of the State is eliciting divergent views from senior doctors. While some say there will be a ‘brain drain’, others maintain that things will remain unaffected as bifurcation is not aimed at addressing the core issues hampering health care delivery.
Doctors in the government sector say that close to 80 per cent of the faculty in two major tertiary teaching hospitals of Telangana, Osmania General Hospital (OGH) and Gandhi Hospital (GH) are from the coastal regions.
“At least, from now on, during recruitment, local doctors can be given preference. Moreover, since Hyderabad will remain the common capital for a decade, a regional centre of Dr. N.T.R. University of Health Sciences can be set up here,” suggests Dr. B. Nagender, member, Telangana Doctors Association.
Some, however, have a contrarian view.
“Where is the guarantee that the existing large pool of teaching faculty from the coastal areas will stay in Hyderabad when bifurcation happens? The quality of teaching at OGH and GH will take a big hit if that happens,” says Dr. C. L. Venkat Rao, a former member of IMA.
Dr. Rao fears that investment in private health care in Hyderabad could also take a hit.
“There is a huge population of entrepreneurs in Western countries looking to invest in health care. Bifurcation has given them an additional option to Hyderabad, and investments could surely go to the coastal regions or Rayalaseema,” he claims.
Many senior doctors also say it is difficult to predict how things will pan out for Hyderabad in future.
“There are a large number of students from the coastal areas pursuing MBBS and PG in Hyderabad and vice-versa. A separate health wing for Osmania University should be formed to bring all medical colleges in Telangana under its control,” suggests Dr. M. Veersham, senior member, Telangana Doctors Association.
Senior Nephrologist Dr. A Gopal Kishan said the medical sector would remain unchanged.
“The system of health care delivery will remain the same, and only the personnel will change. So, there will be no improvement in health care delivery unless you make efforts to improve the system,” is his pithy observation.
