AP Medical Council gets new chairman and vice-chairman

Vijayawada: The state govt has cleared the names of Dr Daggumati Srihari Rao as chairman and Dr Gogineni Sujatha as vice-chairman of AP Medical Council. The govt recently named six renowned medical professionals, including Srihari Rao (Tirupati), Sujatha (Vijayawada), Dr KV Subbarayudu (Ongole), Dr Kesavarao (Vijayawada), Dr C Malliswari as members of medical council. However, intense lobbying by various groups got the selection of chairman and vice-chairman delayed.
Sources said a strong group of doctors and medical colleges in the state wanted Dr Gogineni Sujatha, a gynecologist at Pinnamaneni Siddartha govt medical college, as chairperson of the medical council. However, health minister Satya Kumar Yadav is believed to have backed the candidature of Srihari Rao, who was a strong contender for Tirupati Lok Sabha seat in the last elections.
The Tirupati-based radiologist served as vice-chairman of medical council in the past. He also served as national vice-president of Indian Medical Association (IMA) and was also state president of IMA. He is president-elect of Indian Radiologists Association (IRA). Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu is believed to have cleared the name of Srihari Rao.
Another 13 posts in the medical council were lying vacant since the resignation of the members in the previous governing council. The 13 posts will be elected by practicing doctors in the state. The govt has to nominate another four ex-officio members to the council.