Hyderabad, March 31: Medical services in old city have taken a hit after curfew was imposed due to violence.
Patients, hailing from curfew areas, along with their relatives and attenders are trapped and nowhere to go at government hospitals.
Authorities have also informed that healthcare workers, those residing in old city, are finding it impossible to reach hospitals to attend to their duties due to curfew. The outpatient services at top government maternity hospitals at Petlaburj and Sultanbazar have come to a halt, as majority of patients who frequent these hospitals belong to curfew imposed areas.
Despite the absence of grade four employees, nurses and a few paramedics, according to doctors, inpatient services at the two maternity hospitals, have continued to function normally. The inpatient wards at maternity hospitals in Petlaburj and Sultanbazar are functioning full to their capacity.
“We are stuck here for the past 24 hours. My daughter was scheduled to get discharged today but we had to stay here due to curfew. Thankfully, the drug store in the hospital is open and has enough general provisions like Horlicks, health soaps etc,” says Fatima Bee, who hails from Rehmathnagar, old city.
Authorities inform that attenders, relatives and patients from old city have not been discharged from inpatient wards of Osmania General Hospital and Fever Hospital due to curfew.
Extended shifts
“Our doctors, nurses and grade four employees are working on extended shifts to make up for those who did not make it to the hospital from curfew hit areas. We are keeping our canteen and kitchen running throughout the day to attend to the needs of attenders, relatives and patients,” says Superintendant, Petlaburj Maternity Hospital, Dr. Suvarna.
The district health authorities have maintained that all urban health posts in old city will be up and running to meet the needs of patients. “We have asked our doctors to keep health centres open for emergencies,” said district medical and health officer (DM&HO) Dr. Ch. Jaya Kumari.
–Agencies