Hyderabad: The health department is showcasing how it has improved infrastructure, diagnostics and medical facilities in the last four years and is putting up posters to compare the situation in 2014 and now. The campaign is also running on social media and WhatApp groups.
The posters elaborate on the number of hospital beds, intensive care units, dialysis centres, basti dawakhanas, ambulances and vaccine coverage. It says the state now has 20,000 beds in state-run hospitals against 17,000 in 2014. Vaccine coverage has improved from 62 to 90 per cent, the campaign says.
While diagnostic centres and dialysis units have not been completely set up, the campaign claims 40 of each have been set up.
A senior government doctor said, “There has been some improvement in medical facilities and infrastructure in rural areas. But it is not complete as there are not enough doctors and paramedical staff. The staff crunch continues as recruitment is not complete.”
He said the retaining of skilled doctors in the periphery continues as most of them are not willing to practice in rural areas. “This major problem is far from solved,” he said.
Up to 38,000 patients visit primary healthcare centres, district, area and tertiary hospitals in Hyderabad, 70 per cent of them seeking treatment as out-patients.
The number of doctors and nurses available in the 112-odd primary health care centres and urban healthcare centres needs to be enhanced.
Mr Mujtaba Askari of Helping Hand Foundation, who has volunteers in government government hospitals, said, “Most daily wage workers and those who cannot afford private care opt for government hospitals. But there is a major dearth of staff and also the timing is a problem.”
He said the out-patient department closes by 12 noon, and many of them are stranded. “The government must keep the OPD open till 2 pm so that more patients are covered,” he added.
Another highlight of the campaign is the KCR Kits, of which more than 2 lakh have been distributed. The conditions laid down for disbursal of these kits ensures that women return to government hospitals for delivery. But the improvement in terms of sanitation continues to be a concern.
