Doctors Urged to Play Active Role in Healthcare and Political Representation

Hyderabad, July 13: Prominent doctors from various healthcare organizations in the city have emphasized the importance of doctors actively participating in the mainstream of healthcare and taking on significant roles in social and political representation. The joint statement was made by the associations of DARE, IQRA, and HRDA at a press conference held at the Media Plus Auditorium on Thursday evening.

During the conference, Dr. Khizr Hussain Junaidy, Director of Caspian Healthcare, highlighted the invaluable contributions made by doctors during the challenging times of the Covid-19 pandemic. He acknowledged the immense dedication and selflessness displayed by these doctors, many of whom sacrificed their personal lives to care for patients. Dr. Junaidy questioned why these exceptional individuals should not have a voice and representation in organizations and corporations at both state and national levels.

In light of this, the associations urged doctors to actively participate in the upcoming Telangana State Medical Council’s (TSMC) elections. It was noted that the previous TSMC elections took place in 2007. However, following legal intervention by a group of doctors and social organizations, the Supreme Court of India has directed the TSMC to hold elections for its council before August 15, 2023.

Collaborating together, DARE, IQRA, and HRDA have undertaken the responsibility of raising awareness among the medical fraternity about the significance of the TSMC elections. According to senior ENT specialist Dr. Ahmed Abdul Khabeer, approximately 50,000 to 55,000 doctors are potentially eligible to cast their votes in these elections, with around 10 to 15 percent of them being doctors. However, it has been observed that only a small fraction of doctors actually exercise their right to vote. Nearly 15000 doctors are still to renew their registrations.

To be eligible to vote, doctors are required to have a valid registration certificate issued by the TSMC. The certificate is renewed by the TSMC quinquennially (every 5 years). The eligible doctors must also ensure that their mobile numbers are registered with the medical council to receive an OTP (one-time password) in case online voting becomes an option.

Several respected figures from the medical field were present at the press conference, including Dr. A. A. Khabeer, Dr. Syed Noorullah, Dr. Hammad Hafeez Usama, and Dr. Tanzeel Munawwar.

The associations of DARE (Doctors Association for Relief and Education), IQRA, and Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA) sincerely urge doctors to seize this opportunity to exercise their right to vote and play an active role in shaping healthcare and political representation within their community.