Nizamia Tibbi college docs, students protest govt's discriminatory hiring process

Hyderabad: Doctors and students associated with Government Nizamia Tibbi college recently staged protests and a hunger strike against the Telangana government, opposing the state's discriminatory recruitment process for medical practitioners.

The students and doctors alleged that the Central and state governments' decision was discriminatory as they implemented the National Health Mission without considering the Unani fraternity or its representatives.

Their call for help has been unheard, despite the selfless services they provided during the pandemic as front liners putting their own lives at risk.

The orders issued by the government of Telangana for the recruitment of CHOS and MLHPs under the National Health Mission (NHM) omit medical graduates in yoga, homeopathy, and Unani medicine.

As per a letter dated 6 September 2022, the commissioner of health and family welfare and mission director, NHM, Telangana has informed the district collectors who head the district selection committees that "as per the government of India guidelines, BUMS, BHMS and BNYS candidates are not eligible to hold the post of MLHPS." The mission director further directed them to terminate the services of existing MLHPs with these qualifications after serving mandatory notice as per rules.

Scores of BUMS, BHMS, and BNYS graduates working as CHOs and MHLPs are thus facing termination of their services under the NHM due to the "government of India guidelines" cited by the NHM mission director in Telangana. Further, the BUMS, BHMS, and BNYS graduates are being barred from being recruited as CHOS and MLHPs under NHM in the state.

However, apparently, there is no government of India guidelines that exclude these graduates of other branches of AYUSH (other than Ayurveda).

Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has also written a letter to the ministry of health requesting it to direct the mission director, National Health Mission, Telangana, and the government of Telangana to amend the relevant GOs to prevent the termination of BUMS, BHMS, and BNYS graduates and ensure that they get recruitment opportunity in the future.

While speaking to the media, Dr. Sufian, a PG student, said, "The state and Central governments have ignored us very badly. What we want is no discrimination by the government, to be included in the NHM, and a bridge course for Ayurveda and nursing staff. Also, an Unani board should be established so that our issues are solved."

Dr. Zubair Alam added, "Students and doctors of Unani medicine have been protesting for seven days and have been on hunger strike for a day but no one is listening us. We served during the Covid-19 pandemic and on every front. Save Indian system of medicine."

Dr. Salma requested TS health minister T. Harish Rao and CM KCR to look into their demands. "We request the Central government to take the necessary action regarding this issue as we will be unemployed if this continues. Save the Indian system of Unani medicine, the formulas of which has extensively been used during Covid-19."

She asked why YUSH (Yoga, Unani, Sidha, Homeopathy) has been eliminated from getting any government posts and said importance is being given to Ayurveda, targeting a particular minority, and eradicating them from the education system. "This is unacceptable," she said.