The Malakpet Government Hospital has a major space crunch yet the authorities continue to allow commercial establishments to run from its premise even while two floors remain unoccupied.
Better known as Mamidipudi Nagarjuna Area Hospital, Malakpet, this 100 bed hospital at present admits more patients than it can handle.
Other than those from the old city, people come from neighbouring districts like Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda and Ranga Reddy districts also visit the hospital. The outpatient turnout is around 20,000 per month and the inpatients range between 600 and 700. These figures are apart from casualty cases brought here. In view of the space crunch patients also lie down on the floor, say hospital sources.
Shortage of beds
“The bed strength should be increased by at least 50 so as to cater to the rush,” feels T. Badrinath, Superintendent of the hospital. However, people question the logic of the authorities in allowing commercial establishments to run from a government hospital when the need for many speciality outpatient units is being felt here.
Two floors in the hospital building facing the main road remain unoccupied after a nursing school running from there was shifted while a portion has been rented to a hotel and a few traders.
Poor security
The hospital is plagued with other problems like lack of a gynaecologist during the nights. Security too is porous here and the missing lights add to the woes of patients and their attendants.
Only one guard is present giving good scope for anti-social elements to make the most out of the situation. “We receive many women patients yet no efforts are made to make the hospital secure,” laments a resident of Chanchalguda.
Relatives of patients admitted in the hospital too lack proper accommodation facilities as the shed constructed for them serves as a parking lot for employees.
