Hyderabad: Government hospitals and public health centres saw a rush of Aarogyasri patients who were denied treatment in private hospitals and nursing homes who continued their strike for a fifth day despite the government promising to clear their arrears.
Government doctors are keeping the out-patient departments open till 4 pm as again-st the regular 2 pm. Dr P. Vinod Kumar of the Nampally area hospital said, “There is a heavy rush of patients in the out-patients department as there is rise in fever, viral infections and diarrhoea due to the recent flooding. In each area hospital, we are seeing more than 100 out-patients every day. The admissions have increased from 10 to 15 per day to 30 patients in some area hospitals. Accordingly, senior doctors are staying back till late evening to treat them..”
There are 180 area hospitals in the state and the in-patient admissions were 400 on October 5 and 375 on October 4 under Aarogyasri Healthcare Trust.
Dr G.S. Rani, government doctor, said, “Patients are coming in very agitated as they were denied treatment in three or four private hospitals. When they find doctors in the hospital they are confident that they will get the right treatment. That is why we are maintaining full strength and even junior doctors and interns are being asked to stay back for the full day."
The doctors said that only critical cases were being shifted to Osmania General Hospital and Gandhi Hospital.
Some patients under Aarogyasri were paying private hospitals for treatment. Mr Ramesh G, a gardener attached to a commercial complex in Kompally, had fractured his hand and was rushed to a nearby private hospital. Mr Ramesh said, “I paid money and am getting treated as I am in severe pain and can’t travel any further.”
Telangana Small Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association chairman for Aarogyasri Dr Narsing Reddy said, “We have still not received any money and are going to continue the strike. We are taking up only emergency cases.”
