Hyderabad: Telangana State deputy chief minister and health minister Dr T. Rajaiah’s statement that the director of Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences should be from Telangana has raked up an old issue. The problems between Andhra Pradesh and TS doctors, which have been discussed time and again in government hospitals over the last six months, has regained prominence with the minister’s statement.

Dr Rajaiah said, “The health ministry has got complaints against the director and there is also a court case pending against him.” But the exact reason for the statement was not clear. Dr L. Narendranath, Nims’ director, refused to comment on the matter.

But it has created a stir in health circles with the reason for the statement being questioned. Senior health officers, on condition of anonymity, said that the minister was upset that an appointment by him for the health university was kept aside. An officer said, “An order was issued and then the order was kept in abeyance. The statement was forced to make a point against the director. It is to bring the unsettled issue of Andhra Pradesh and TS doctors to the fore.”