Health Minister slams ‘ghost faculty’ practice in private medical colleges

Telangana Health Minister warns against 'ghost faculty' in private medical colleges, vows strict action for quality violations.

Raising serious concerns over the integrity of private medical education in Telangana, Minister for Health C. Damodar Raja Narasimha on Monday, warned private medical colleges against the practice of deploying ‘ghost faculty’,  staff who exist only on paper but are absent on campus.

In a meeting held with the management, deans, and principals of private medical colleges, the Minister said the government had received credible complaints about this malpractice, which he described as unacceptable and damaging to the reputation of the State’s medical education system.

“This method is not good. Such actions will degrade the standards of medical education. If quality declines, it puts lives at risk. The government will be very strict in this matter. Colleges that violate quality norms will face severe action,” he said.

The minister also addressed complaints regarding non-payment of stipends, urging colleges to ensure that students are paid without delay. “Students should not suffer due to financial stress, stipends are essential for their well-being and academic focus,” he said.