Hyderabad, Nov.28 (NSS):Telangana’s Health department continues to grapple with challenges inherited from flawed policies of the previous administration, even a decade after the State’s formation.
Employees in the health and medical sectors are bearing the brunt of these systemic issues, including outdated service rules and a lack of regular Head of Departments (HODs) for key divisions.
Currently, Ravinder Naik is serving as the in-charge Director of Public Health (DPH) and has been striving to maintain coordination within the department. Assisting him is Deputy Director Shweta Monga, who is actively addressing service matters and employee grievances while working toward resolving issues without escalation.
Despite these efforts, significant administrative hurdles persist. The absence of a regular DPH has hampered decision-making and stalled critical operations. Even though Minister for Health Damodara Raja Narasimha has successfully initiated reforms in the department, the process remains incomplete as the departmental promotion committee (DPC) is yet to finalise the suitable candidate.
The newly-formed Congress-led government, under the leadership of Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha, is focusing on restructuring the health department. Recently, the Minister has emphasised transparency and has consistently avoided political interference or favoritism in his administrative approach. His firm stance has been lauded for prioritising merit-based governance over lobbying efforts.
Meanwhile, while Ravinder Naik has managed to establish stability in the department, rumors suggest attempts by certain union leaders to replace him with another in-charge DPH. This move has sparked concerns among employees, who fear further delays in resolving long-pending issues. They argue that appointing yet another interim DPH would prolong the administrative instability and stall progress for at least another year.
Senior medical professionals and retired officials advocate for a swift resolution, urging the government to expedite the DPC meeting and appoint a regular DPH.
Employees believe this would pave the way for long-term solutions and enhance the efficiency of the health department. It remains to be seen how the Health Minister will respond to these pressing concerns.
