“Is it a hospital or mortuary?” asked Telangana Health Minister Dr. Lakshma Reddy while inspecting the Nizamia Tibbi Hospital at Charminar on Wednesday.
The Health Minister, who visited the hospital along with Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali, expressed shock after checking the Labour Room and Operation Theatre. He directed the officials to send estimates on immediate basis bring the two utilities into proper shape. He was also upset after finding that the hospital building was in dilapidated condition. He rebuked the officials for keeping him in dark about the sorry conditions at the hospital and said immediate steps should be taken to improve the conditions.
The minister also received representation from different unions on the occasion. The Old Boys Association informed minister that the proposal to construct a new block for Nizamia Hospital has been pending since two years although the hospital gets an average of nearly 1500 Out-Patients. The operation theatre is close since many years and circumcisions were not being performed the last two years. The services of contract staff, including doctors, who are working since 9 years are not being regularised.
Similarly, the Telangana Unani Medical Officers Association and Unani Medical Organisation made separate representations. The minister was informed that 120-bedded Sir Nizamat Jung Hospital at Narayanguda remained incomplete despite spending Rs. 3.50 crore as it needs additional funds of Rs. 80 lakh. He was also told that the demand for shifting of Ayurvedic Hospital is pending since several decades.
Later, the minister visited the Old TB Hospital at Dabirpura. He said that it would be developed as Super Specialty Hospital.
Charminar MLA Syed Ahmed Pasha Quadri, Hyderabad Collector Rahul Bojja, Ayush Commissioner Rajasekhar Reddy, Addl Director (Unani) Mir Yousuf Ali, Nizamia Unani Hospital Superintendant Abeda Sultana, Principal of Nizamia Tibbi College Shahzadi Begum and other officials were also present. (INN)