Despite Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy announcing sanction of Rs. 1 crore to the Community Health Centre (CHC) at Barkas a year ago, nothing much has changed on the ground.
The amount was meant for doubling the strength of the 50-bed hospital. Interestingly, the Barkas Hospital, as it is popularly known, has not received any communication in this regard till date.
“We have received neither written orders nor any letter regarding the sanction of one crore rupees,” says Superintendent of the CHC Venkata Ramana.
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The Chief Minister's announcement raised hopes of an end to the misery for the poor here. The CHC is the only alternative for free medicare for the deprived from Shaheen Nagar, Errakunta, Bandlaguda and Chandrayangutta in particular. The hospital caters to about 800 to 900 out-patients every day and has good occupancy in inpatient ward.
Staff strength
The strength of the doctors is eight and that of staff nurses is 12. Ironically, there are no general physicians here and specialists double up as general physicians and attend minor cases of cold, fever and cough.
The hospital has specialist departments only for gynaecology and paediatrics. However, all the doctors, including the anaesthetist, ophthalmologist, and house surgeons sit in one hall and attend the patients. “We are deprived of adequate space,” says a doctor.
Access to specialists
Access to specialists is the major need of the hour for people here. “Visiting a specialist is a costly affair, they charge high fees,” says Mohd. Subhan, a resident of Bandlaguda.
A need for an ophthalmology department has been felt for a long time, but there is no such facility here.
Ironically, an ophthalmologist performs the duty of a general physician “In absence of any ophthalmology department, we have to go the other private hospitals,” says Saira Banu, a worker from Shaheen Nagar.
The hospital requires a dermatology and ophthalmology department in addition to support staff. Absence of blood bank and lab in the hospital is a hindrance in taking up big surgeries. In spite of a sanctioned post of a surgeon, inadequate facilities force them to limit to minor surgeries, it is said.
Hospital authorities feel identification of land and construction of a spacious hospital nearby will address accommodation and parking problems prevailing here. The hospital premises would not be adequate for a 100-bed hospital, they feel.
Upgradation needed
Upgrading the hospital into an Area hospital would be of great help, the locals feel.