Hyderabad: Senior doctors at the Niloufer Hospital have told Health Minister C. Laxma Reddy that the government must first hand over the new block of the children’s hospital to them as it has not been handed over despite being completed over two years ago.
The building is fully constructed but is vacant due to reasons like pending works, no auspicious dates for inauguration and many others.
A senior doctor said, “The government had promised that it would look into all these pending problems first and expedite them. Instead of easing the problems faced by the children’s hospital they are planning to shift Osmania General Hospital units, here which is not fair.”
The Intensive Care Unit and surgical unit of Osmania General Hospital was being planned to be shifted to Niloufer Hospital but with the negative reaction from doctors it is now going to be reconsidered.
The minister visited area hospitals in Nampally, Golconda, Malakpet and Vanashtalipuram to assess the situation and to work out a plausible method in which the different OGH units can be smoothly shifted.
He also held meetings with senior officials of private hospitals to understand if any patients’ requirements would be handled by them in case of emergency.
Dr Reddy said, “The present condition of Osmania General Hospital building is very bad. It is in a highly dilapidated state and can collapse anytime. In view of this condition, Chief Minister, K. Chandrashekar Rao, has directed immediate evacuation and begin construction of a new structure.”
Forum opposes OGH demolition
The Forum for Better Hyderabad opposed the demolition of the OGH stating that it is an iconic structure. It can be repaired and preserved as a heritage structure, said forum president M. Vedakumar. He said the forum supports the construction of a new building but without demolishing the old structure.
