Governor's surprise visit to Osmania hospital rattles government

 HYDERABAD: Rattled by Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan’s sudden and unannounced visit to Osmania General Hospital (OGH) on Monday and the series of complaints against inadequate facilities at the hospital, health minister T. Harish Rao conducted an emergency review meeting on the issue.

The Governor and the health minister have been at loggerheads over the new building and facilities at OGH.

Following her surprise visit to the hospital, the minister postponed his afternoon engagement at NIMS and called for a review meeting on the OGH issue with MLAs and MPs.

Rao told the meeting that the government would examine their opinions on the construction of a new building in OGH and submit an affidavit to the High Court and undertake the construction work after getting approval.

Addressing the media during her visit to OGH, the Governor held the state government squarely responsible for the poor state of affairs in the hospital.

She said “It is a matter of concern that doctors and other medical staff are working under a space constraint. It is commendable that despite such poor surroundings, they are providing excellent healthcare services.”

Patients, being treated in congested spaces, are in discomfort. The quality of beds, toilets and hygiene are woefully ridiculous. I have been raising concerns at the conditions in government hospitals in the state with Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao given that government hospitals are the only hope for poor patients,” the Governor said.

Stating that there has to be some sort of middle ground as far as the old heritage building and the proposed new building are concerned, she said that patient care was of utmost importance. She appealed to the government to act with a sense of responsibility and provide quality and comfortable space to all patients.

Meanwhile, AIMIM president Asadudin Owaisi renewed his demand for a new building within OGH premises. Since the building was in a dilapidated condition, the authorities should take permission from the court to demolish it and make way for a new one, Owaisi said.

Meanwhile, the joint association for OGH withheld its protest by a week following the health minister’s review meeting with various stakeholders.