Hyderabad: Raising concerns over the 50% local reservation for postgraduate medical seats, MBBS graduates and healthcare experts in Telangana are urging the state govt to increase it to 85–90%, similar to the model in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
They argue that students who have spent years studying in Telangana and contributing to its healthcare system deserve priority in private medical colleges. Members of the Healthcare Reforms Association said the absence of adequate local reservation forces Telangana MBBS graduates to compete with candidates from across India, making it difficult to continue medical education within the state.
The demand comes after Andhra Pradesh implemented GO 102 in 2023, reserving over 90% of PG seats for local candidates. Of 393 PG seats in Andhra’s private medical colleges, 357 were reserved for locals, leaving just 36 for open competition. Telangana students insist a similar move is urgently needed.
“There should be at least 85% reservation for Telangana graduates before the upcoming MQ-1 counselling,” said a student from Osmania Medical College.
Despite govt orders in 2017, 326 PG seats under Management Quota-1 (MQ-1) remain open to all-India candidates. Health experts say this policy has persisted for eight years, disadvantaging thousands of Telangana graduates annually.
“Telangana produces nearly 7,000 MBBS graduates each year but has only around 2,000–2,200 PG seats. With 326 MQ-1 seats open to outsiders, local students are unfairly pushed out. Many are forced to leave the state for further studies, adding financial and emotional strain on families,” said Dr Bandari Rajkumar, president of the Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA).
Doctors’ groups, including the Telangana Junior Doctors Association (T-JUDA), have submitted strong representations to the govt and Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS), demanding a new govt order before MQ-1 counselling.
“This is about fairness and justice,” said a junior doctor. “A single GO can benefit hundreds of Telangana doctors. The govt must act immediately.”
Dr Rajkumar warned that if KNRUHS proceeds with MQ-1 counselling without securing local reservation, HRDA and allied groups will pursue legal action. “Counselling must be stopped until this issue is resolved. The state must protect its own medical graduates.”
A health department official said the matter is under legal review. “The court may cancel MQ quotas in every state. Even the convener quota is under judicial scrutiny.” The official added that while the govt has agreed with private colleges to maintain 50% management quota, growing pressure from graduates may prompt a reconsideration.
