The government managed maternity centres spread across the city are falling short of standards in terms of infrastructure facilities forcing people to approach either private hospitals or corporate maternity hospitals.
Security is a big concern in most maternity hospitals in the government sector. One such facility is the maternity centre at Panipura in Karwan where absence of security is forcing many to avoid the place. This 30 bed hospital is without any watch and ward staff for the last many months.
There is not even a gate to the hospital compound. Most of the time vagabonds and anti-social elements make their way into the hospital creating panic among patients and their attendants. “Even employees are afraid to work in the evenings and night,” a hospital worker says.
The bed strength at this hospital was upgraded recently to 30 and around 30 cases of normal deliveries are reported every month. The authorities had planned to start a facility for taking up Caesarean operations here and also supplied equipment needed for the purpose. However, issues like shortage of doctors, inadequate water supply and power outages hinder the development plans.
Inadequate drinking water facility is another problem facing the hospital. Drying up of the bore-well has only added to the water crisis, hospital authorities say.Similar situation prevails at the Urban Community Health Centre at Jangammet in Falaknuma. This 30 bed hospital caters to about 2,000 out patients every month and between 25 and 30 deliveries are reported here every month.
The hospital, which is under the purview of Andhra Pradesh Vaidya Vidhana Parishad, lacks proper drainage system and is plagued by drinking water problem. The bore well at the hospital needs frequent repairs.
No scanning facilities
This apart, absence of scanning facilities here is forcing people to shell out money at private diagnostic centres. For want of equipment the operation theatre here remains non-functional. Hospital authorities point out that a consignment of equipment has been sent to the hospital recently. But it cannot be put to use until three phased power supply and power back-up facilities are provided.
