Telangana RTC Drivers' Mandatory Health Check-ups Remain Suspended for Over a Year
In a development that raises significant concerns about both employee welfare and public safety, mandatory annual health check-ups for drivers of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) have been in limbo for more than a year. Despite clear regulations requiring periodic medical screening for commercial drivers, no structured health evaluation has been conducted since April 2024, according to transport unions and employees.
Systemic Neglect of Driver Well-being
Under established transport and labour safety regulations, RTC drivers are mandated to undergo regular medical fitness tests. These assessments are crucial for evaluating cardiovascular health, vision, hearing, and overall physical and mental well-being. However, thousands of drivers operating both city and long-distance services across Telangana continue to work without these essential evaluations.
A senior RTC employee, speaking anonymously, highlighted the corporation's apparent misplaced priorities. "Unfortunately, employee well-being seems to be a low priority, while the condition of buses is looked after well," he stated. "Health checks must be conducted twice a year to identify health issues early. If any problems are detected, suitable recommendations should be given to safeguard human resources, which are the most critical asset of the corporation."
Alarming Incidents Due to Lack of Monitoring
The absence of routine medical screening has already led to several alarming incidents over the past year. Multiple RTC drivers have reportedly suffered heart attacks or sudden health complications while on duty. In one particularly concerning case, a middle-aged driver experienced chest pain while operating a bus on a highway route. He managed to stop the vehicle and alert passengers before collapsing, thereby averting a major accident, but tragically later died of cardiac arrest.
In another incident, a driver fell critically ill mid-route, leaving passengers stranded until emergency assistance could arrive. Union leaders assert that such occurrences reflect deeper systemic neglect within the transport corporation's approach to employee healthcare.
Union Leaders Highlight Working Conditions and Health Risks
Yadaiah, state secretary of the retired employees' union, explained that drivers often work grueling shifts of 12 to 15 hours daily due to staff shortages, erratic schedules, and pressure to maintain strict timetables. Without routine medical assessments, conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiac ailments, and fatigue-related disorders remain undiagnosed until they potentially escalate into emergencies behind the wheel.
Raji Reddy, another prominent union leader, noted that while RTC management has occasionally cited health camps and welfare initiatives, these cannot substitute for mandatory, structured medical tests. Employees and unions are now demanding the immediate resumption of regular health check-ups—preferably conducted twice annually—alongside reduced duty hours and proper medical follow-up protocols for affected staff members.
Public Safety Becomes Paramount Concern
With lakhs of passengers depending on RTC services every day across Telangana, unions emphasize that drivers' health transcends mere employee welfare—it represents a critical public safety concern. They stress that preventive healthcare measures are absolutely essential to ensuring safe and reliable public transport throughout the state.
Official Response from TGSRTC Management
Responding to queries about the absence of medical check-ups since April 2024, TGSRTC vice-chairman and managing director Y Nagireddy stated, "Health check-up for drivers is a regular process. Drivers below 45 years undergo medical examination once in two years, while those above 45 years are required to undergo health check-ups every year."
He further elaborated that a 'grand health challenge' (GHC 1.0) was conducted in 2022, covering all employees at a cost of Rs 333 per employee. This was followed by GHC 2.0 on April 18, 2024, and a separate programme for employees' spouses on September 12, 2024, both initiatives costing Rs 220 per employee. "All these programmes were conducted through Call Health," Nagireddy added.
Despite these claims from management, transport unions and drivers maintain that structured, mandatory annual health examinations have not been consistently implemented, leaving a significant gap in both occupational health monitoring and public safety assurance for Telangana's extensive bus transport network.
