Chennai: Osmania General Hospital run by the state government has appointed three trans doctors including two transwomen and an HIV-affected medical officer. Prachi Rathod and Ruth John Paul Koyyala are the first transwomen to get government jobs in Telangana.
Dr Nagender, Superintendent Osmania General Hospital said, “There was a proposal to set up a transgender clinic at Osmania Hospital. There were vacancies for 3 medical officers, 36 doctors had applied for these posts.”
“With this, we wanted to give priority to the transgender community and the HIV-affected medical professional. We have recruited 3 transgender doctors; 2 are transwomen & 1 is HIV affected Medical Officer,” he said.
Dr Prachi Rathod, Medical Officer, Osmania General Hospital said, “I feel great, this will be the first time a transgender will work for a government hospital. Feels great to treat patients without any gender difference, as their healthcare facilitator.”
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The appointment of the two transwomen doctors is viewed as a major success by the trans community.
Ruth John Paul from Khammam got the job in Osmania after facing rejections by 15 hospitals in Hyderabad. The 28-year-old transwoman completed her MBBS from Malla Reddy Institute of Medical Sciences.
On the other hand, Prachi who completed MBBS from Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences Adilabad in 2015 was working as a doctor at a private hospital. However, she was told to leave the hospital during her transition period.
The 30-year-old doctor lost her job when she had three years of experience due to the stigma.