Hyderabad's Osmania Hospital Suddenly Falls On Sick Bed

Nearly three weeks after Health Minister and Deputy CM T Rajaiah’s first overnight stay at the Osmania General Hospital (OGH), there has been no improvement in sanitation and the overall standards of the hospital.

Rajaiah had vowed to improve the standards of government hospitals in the city after the reality check. Well, government hospitals continue to rot. In fact, insanitary conditions at OGH have gone from bad to worse since Express last paid a visit to the hospital on November 26.

If the conditions are abysmal, patients, attendants and health care professionals continue to co-exist in despicable conditions and a stench-filled atmosphere. There is filth and waste thrown around at every nook and corner, including the wards. The condition in the female wards is repulsive.  

When contacted, officials conceded that the situation is far from acceptable standards and promised to take it up with Superintendent Dr Raghuram who is in Chennai to attend a conference. “Sanitation workers have not been paid salaries for the last three months. So, naturally they are not motivated to do their work. As a result, sanitation in OGH has gone for a toss,” said a senior official.

Worse still, patients complain about apathy of doctors. “My sister has been lying sick inside the ward for the last couple of months and yet, no doctor has attended to her even once,” cried A Khan, an aggrieved attendant. Doctors concede that while they make it a point to attend to everybody, they sometimes find it hard to cater to the needs of every patient as they are grossly understaffed.