Hyderabad: The Sardar Vallabhai Patel cantonment general hospital in Bolarum, which has once served as a reliable maternity hospital to not only residents of in and around the cantonment area but also neighbouring districts, is still yet to have a maternity care centre.
Flanked by the state highway leading to Karimnagar on one side and national highway 44 on the other, the hospital is conveniently located to cater to healthcare needs of lakhs of people. Yet, the general hospital lacks a trauma centre to provide treatment in case of road accidents. Residents have no option but to visit either Gandhi or Osmania hospitals in such cases.
Although the last few months have seen a significant improvement in the services offered -- OPD, dental, ENT, orthopaedic, ophthalmology, and skin among others, there is a need for recruiting full-time specialist doctors and extending in-patient capacity. According to the authorities, the hospital currently has a 50-bed in-patient facility, including a Covid treatment ward, in addition to an ICU unit. Authorities said the recruitment process is on for hiring five assistant medical officers.
“If the hospital can provide all services with a 100-bed in-patient facility, it will be of excellent use to lakhs of low-income people in the region. The general hospital can hence decentralise services from Gandhi and Osmania hospitals, which have a heavy patient load,” said A. Murali Krishna, working president, federation of new Bolarum colonies welfare association.
B. Ajith Reddy, CEO of the Secunderabad Cantonment Board, says the lack of support from the state government makes it difficult to sustain the maintenance of the hospital. “Although we could gather funds to build infrastructure, we need funds to sustain the operations.”
Women in surrounding areas complained that there was a need for a dedicated maternity centre in the hospital. “We are referred to other hospitals in far off places in the city for pregnancy care,” complained B. Laxmi, a resident of Machabollaram.
