The Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association (TNGDA) and Service Doctors and Post Graduates Association (SDPGA) have opposed a proposal to appoint an IAS officer to head the Directorate of Medical Education. Till date, the directorate is headed by a government doctor as per seniority.
In a letter to the Health Secretary, TNGDA’s president A. Srinivasan and general secretary T. Kanagarajan, urged the State government to withdraw the proposal.
The TNGDA said it had learned of a proposal to post an IAS officer as the Commissioner of the Directorate of Medical Education. Expressing shock over the move, the association questioned the need for such a proposal when the Health department had functioned effectively under the existing system for the past four decades.
Such a move, it said, would be counterproductive, as it would seek to compel the cadre to work rather than motivate and encourage them. The association also pointed out that despite shortages and inadequacies in manpower, infrastructure and budget, the cadre continued to work all these years for the welfare of the public. It warned that if the proposal is not dropped, it would be forced to launch direct agitations against the move. TNGDA said it would join hands with all associations to oppose the proposal.
SDPGA pointed out that until 2000, the Health department had only one IAS officer, who served as the Health Secretary. Subsequently, IAS officers were appointed to key administrative positions, including project director of Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society. Over the years, they have also come to head the Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project as project director, the National Health Mission, Tamil Nadu as mission director, Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation as managing director and Medical Services Recruitment Board as chairperson. The department has now proposed appointing an administrative cadre officer for the post of Director of Medical Education.
“We strongly condemn this move,” P. Saminathan, president of SDPGA, said. There are already six administrative posts manned by IAS officers, the association said and urged the government to increase the number of posts of doctors in line with the patient load, in accordance with the Indian Public Health Standards recommendations, which will strengthen the Health department.
There has been no proportionate increase in the number of government doctors over the years. In 2000, there were 8,000-odd doctors working in government health facilities, including 13 government medical colleges, government hospitals and primary health centres (PHC). More than two decades later, the number of doctors has increased to about 20,000. During the same period, however, the public healthcare network has expanded significantly to include 36 government medical colleges, nearly 270 government hospitals and more than 2,000 PHCs, Dr. Saminathan said.
Published – July 30, 2026 12:58 am IST
