Rajaiah faces hard-hitting reality

Patients at OGH pour out their hearts to Health Minister

Health Minister T. Rajaiah undergoing a medical check-up at OGH in Hyderabad on Monday. Photo: G. Ramakrishna

It was a spontaneous outburst of sorts, as grief-stricken patients poured their hearts out on lack of humane treatment by doctors, paramedics, class IV employees and other infrastructure difficulties. Deputy Chief Minister Dr. T. Rajaiah’s first overnight stay at Osmania General Hospital (OGH) on Monday was a reality check that brought to light the deep-rooted problems patients and their relatives suffer in a government hospital.

A visibly shaken Dr. Rajaiah later acknowledged that public had lost faith in government hospitals. “I want to win back the confidence of patients and even staff. I will undergo procedures and regular tests at OGH. I will make surprise visits to all the top hospitals in Hyderabad and Telangana and spend the night,” Dr. Rajaiah said.

Budget allocations

The Deputy Chief Minister visited the hospital at 6 p.m. on Monday, and planned to review all the matters throughout the night. “In the budget, we have allotted hospital-based funds. I want to make sure the money is spent judiciously and that too before next March. In another month, civic improvement works in all hospitals should start. Patients are vexed with lack of proper facilities,” he said.

At every stage of his visit, Dr. Rajaiah faced complaints from patients and even nursing students, who raised slogans demanding hostel and classroom facilities. He visited almost all the hospital wings and interacted with transplantation patients at the nephrology wing. Dr. Rajaiah also underwent a minor procedure wherein a part of the nail in his feet had to be cut.

“We should also provide for liver transplantation soon. There is a problem with manpower shortage. We are waiting for the complete report of Kamalnathan committee to know the exact position of health care workers needed,” he said.

About the new building, he said “heritage restrictions” came in the way. “We will talk with the heritage officials to look into the proposal to set up a new building at Chanchalguda jail campus. The Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will take a call on this issue,” he said.