Hyderabad: To reenforce confidence among patients, doctors, paramedical staff and to boost their morale, deputy chief minister Dr T. Rajaiah will undertake night visits of government hospitals.
While the Osmania General Hospital was aware of Monday’s visit and was prepared, Dr Rajaiah will conduct surprise visits to other hospitals.
The Telangana State government has sanctioned Rs 100 crore in its Budget for hospitals, of which, Rs 70 crore is for infrastructure and Rs 30 crore for upgrading of wards.
Dr Rajaiah said, “This money has to be utilised by March 2015. To ensure that it is properly utilised, there will be surprise inspections to verify needs and use the money as per requirements.”
For Dr Rajaiah’s visit, authorities ensured that the OGH was thoroughly cleaned. The corridors were swept clean and patients camped outside, in the portico area or in the alley near the nurses’ hostel, were sent to an NGO in Uppal.
There were no abandoned patients at OGH, which is very uncommon. All heads of departments were present and there were queries about every ward as Dr Rajaiah, armed with a stethoscope, personally examined patients.
On Tuesday morning, Dr Rajaiah, who is a diabetic, will get himself evaluated in the diagnostic centre. “I am going to undergo tests here to check their efficiency," he said.
Here are the highlights of Dr Rajaiah’s visit:
Relatives of patients pull trolleys with the patient from the Out Patient department to the Acute Medical Care Ward as there are no nurses and ward boys available. Dr Rajaiah witnessed this first-hand.
Garbage from the wards was dumped in black bags and put outside the hospital on the road.
Over 50 nurses met Dr Rajaiah and demanded a college and better hostel facilities; 200 students are staying in the hostel which is in a bad state. n Dr Rajaiah slept in the superintendent’s chamber on Monday where arrangements were made for him.
He will initiate dialogue with heritage activists to resolve the issue of the new building.
The Chanchalguda jail option is also open, but the decision rests with the Chief Minister.
