GHMC may Drop Doctors from Panel

Hyderabad: Doctors and healthcare professionals are raising concerns over a proposal that is under discussion in the GHMC — to transfer the authority of issuing trade licenses from qualified health officers to bill collectors and assistant municipal commissioners (AMCs).

One of the major concerns is that with this change, licences would be issued without health inspections, putting public at serious health risks.

“Shops, hotels, godowns, eateries and other commercial establishments require inspections for sanitation, drainage, water contamination, and hygiene – all of which fall under the expertise of health officers. Issuing licenses without these critical checks could lead to outbreaks of dengue, typhoid, food poisoning, and other communicable diseases. It will certainly be a serious public health concern,” said Dr Srinivas Gundagani, vice-chairman, Telangana Medical Council.

“Even the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has mandated strict compliance with health and environmental standards before permitting hazardous trades,” a medical officer said.

As per GHMC Act, 1955 (Section 112(8)), regulating dangerous trades is a mandatory duty of the corporation. Bylaw 21 (1973) states that health officers must verify the number of toilets, urinals, and other sanitary provisions before a license is granted.

The health professionals claim that delegating this authority to municipal commissioners will violate these existing protocols, including the Environment Protection Act (EPA).

“It is a matter that concerns an official having expertise on public health. If something happens after issuing licences without medical expert’s inspections, the municipal officers would very easily say that they had no idea,” said Dr Dwarakanath Reddy, President, Indian Medical Association, Telangana.

Moreover, it will open doors for corruption. “Without professional scrutiny, the system becomes vulnerable to bribes, benami operations (proxy ownership) and black money transactions. People will start believing that license is equal to bribe, which not only damages the image of the corporation but also discourages honest traders,” Dr Reddy alleged.

Health experts mentioned that the task of assistant municipal commissioners was to bring unregulated commercial activity in residential zones into legal compliance, not on issuing trade licences, which require specialised health expertice. “All licensing must be based on health and safety norms, not administrative convenience. This is an investment in the city’s long-term health and economic resilience,” Dr Reddy said.

Asked about the proposal, and the concerns expressed by doctors, GHMC commissioner R.V. Karnan told Deccan Chronicle that it was a move it to reduce the number of people inspecting the same establishment.

“For hotels, we already have Food Safety Officials to check for sanitation. For other establishments, the municipal commissioners are equipped to check for all the requirements. The AMOHs are responsible for activities directly related to public health such as controlling the spread of seasonal diseases. Issuing trade licences is not really under their purview and if there is a push in that direction, it is out of vested interests,” he said.