Centre forms expert panel on healthcare for transgender persons

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has constituted a panel of medical experts from different domains to hold detailed discussions and provide technical and policy-level guidance on healthcare related issues concerning transgender persons, as outlined in its directive issued earlier this week.

The directive comes after an advisory committee was constituted, last year, on the direction of the Supreme Court in the Jane Kaushik vs Union of India and Others case.

Jane, a transwoman, has alleged that she faced discrimination and humiliation in the course of her employment on account of her gender identity. She has said that this discrimination resulted in the termination of her services by two different schools located in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.

“It was noted during the second meeting of the advisory committee held on January 24, 2026 that there was no representative from the Union Health Ministry. Healthcare is a critical area, and in view of the specialised needs of transgender persons, the committee considered that this subject requires focused deliberation in a dedicated session,’’ said the directive issued by the Ministry.

It added that health and medical needs of transgender persons are distinct from those of male and female sex identity due to hormonal, physiological, and psychological differences.

The Ministry has now said that a meeting of medical experts with the advisory committee is scheduled for February 2.

Need of the hour

Speaking about the issues and the importance of having the Union Health Ministry in the committee, Gopi Shankar Madurai, representative of intersex persons and former member of the National Council for Transgender Persons said: “While transgender individuals deserve dignity and rights, policies must be grounded in biological sex distinctions to protect all vulnerable groups. I urge ICMR, AIIMS, and the government to fund peer-reviewed, longitudinal studies on GAS/HRT outcomes, integrate genetic counselling, and reform prison policies for separate transgender facilities”.

“This science-based approach will mitigate suffering, align with ethical imperatives, and foster a truly equitable society,” they added.