Telangana doctors oppose move to raise retirement age of medical college faculty from 65 to 70 years

Doctors’ associations in Telangana have opposed reports of a proposal to increase the retirement age of teaching faculty in government medical colleges from 65 years to 70 years, arguing that such a move would adversely affect promotions, recruitment and career opportunities for younger doctors.

The Telangana Junior Doctors Association (T-JUDA), Telangana Senior Residents Doctors Association (T-SRDA) and Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA) issued separate statements on Saturday, June 20 urging the State government to retain the existing retirement age.

While acknowledging the experience and contributions of senior professors, the associations said extending the service period by another five years would delay promotions of Assistant Professors, Associate Professors and Professors, leading to stagnation in academic careers. “Vacancies created through superannuation are essential for maintaining a healthy academic hierarchy and ensuring timely career advancement,” they said.

They further added that thousands of senior residents and newly qualified specialists aspire to join government medical colleges as teaching faculty, and any extension in the retirement age would reduce recruitment opportunities and create uncertainty regarding academic careers. Delayed retirements would restrict leadership opportunities for mid-career faculty and affect institutional dynamism and succession planning.

The associations urged the government to fill existing faculty vacancies, create additional posts in newly established medical colleges, ensure timely promotions and provide transparent recruitment opportunities for young specialists and senior residents.