VIPs overlook OGH, patients

The hospital’s staff is nonplussed when the government chose to ‘endorse’ private hospitals at the cost of public hospitals

They came to the city as tourists but what they got in turn was a narrow escape from the jaws of death and a sense of betrayal from authorities.

Three members of a family, who survived the Dilsukhnagar bomb blast, still can’t understand why no VVIP turned up at the Osmania General Hospital (OGH) to console them.

Even the hospital’s staff is nonplussed when the Government chose to ‘endorse’ private hospitals at the cost of public hospitals.

Grievances

The Prime Minister, Chief Minister and all other Cabinet Ministers chose to visit the private hospitals but did nothing to acknowledge the role of OGH staff, they rued. “They met all patients and applauded doctors elsewhere. But, none cared to acknowledge our doctors and nurses who played a big role in saving lives immediately after the blast,” senior doctors pointed out.

They feel the VVIPs “fear” facing uncomfortable questions if OGH is visited. “Due to general strike, we did not even have proper supply of drugs at the casualty wing on Thursday. Still, our staff performed admirably despite the infrastructure frailties,” they said.

The family of the blast victims here too were livid. “Has everybody forgotten us because we are poor? While politicians are visiting victims at private hospitals, nobody has visited us. Our family lives on daily wages,” complains Babu Rao, father of Yenkanna, injured in the blast.

Yenkanna, his wife Rama Devi and her younger brother Nanchariah, 18, hail from Pothepalli village, Machilipatnam. The trio were living at Babu Rao’s house in Dilsukhnagar, who makes his living selling coconuts. On the fateful day, the trio were shopping when they were hit. “Since then, it’s only the doctors and nurses looking after us,” Yenkanna said. Nanchariah’s right hand was burnt and fractured, while Rama Devi received shrapnel injuries to her thighs and head. Yenkanna received shrapnel wounds on the back, legs and hands.

“Police collected pieces of shrapnel lodged in my scalp for evidence. I have started to lose my hair as my scalp got burnt,” says Rama Devi.