Cross-border patients face harrowing time at Telangana borders
Scores of ambulances stranded at interstate borders of Telangana; online permission must for seeking treatment in state
Hyderabad: Patients from Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh seeking treatment in Telangana are facing a major challenge as the state borders are closed due to lockdown. Similarly, patients from Telangana districts bordering Andhra Pradesh are also not able to avail the facilities either.
More than 40 ambulances were stranded at the interstate borders on Friday morning.
Due to lack of proper online permits, ambulances were not allowed to cross the borders. Only 11 ambulances carrying patients with serious conditions were allowed to cross the borders on humanitarian grounds, said the health department of Telangana.
These ambulances were coming from Andhra Pradesh to Telangana for Covid-19 treatment.
But it has also been observed that patients from Gadwal in Telangana state are seeking treatment in Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh and those from Khammam in Telangana state are seeking treatment in Vijayawada hospitals as Hyderabad is distant for them.
Similarly, patients from districts in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh close to borders are opting for Telangana. Due to lockdown in Telangana these ambulances are not being allowed to cross the borders.
Director of health Dr G. Srinivas Rao said, "Those who want to seek treatment in Telangana must first reserve a bed in the hospital and then only venture to the state. There is a multi-disciplinary team which will clear the passage as it involves police and district medical and health officials. We cannot have ambulances crowded at borders. During the lockdown in Maharashtra, the same rule was applied."
Dr Rao claims that there are many patients from other states opting for treatment in Telangana as there is availability of beds and timely medical treatment. He said, "This is straining our medical resources in terms of oxygen supply, medicines and infrastructure."
To tackle the problem at borders, a real time live dashboard with bed availability will be created. Dr Rao said, "Those who want to seek treatment in Telangana must apply online and only those who are permitted, will only be allowed to enter the state."