HYDERABAD: Inside Hyderabad’s Osmania General Hospital (OGH), the transgender clinic has become a lifeline for many. As Telangana prepares to launch 33 Maitri Clinics for transgenders on December 2, this facility, which is operating once a week, has set a precedent for government-led transgender healthcare.
On Friday the hospital also hosted a sensitisation programme for medical officers who will soon staff the Maitri Clinics. The programme included individuals from the trans community as well. “This is to sensitise the doctors, to help them understand and handle the complexities of these cases better,” said hospital superintendent and endocrinologist Dr Rakesh Sahay.
The day-long programme focused on medical and psychological complexities that the new clinics could face in the areas of gynaecology, psychiatry, dermatology and general medicine. Trans people, who often face a lot of judgment while accessing healthcare, hope these initiatives will change their conditions for the better. Rachana Mudraboyina, a transgender activist and founding member of the Telangana Hijra Intersex Transgender Samiti who also attended the workshop noted that while this is a great initiative, there is a long way to go when it comes to sensitisation.
OGH’s transgender clinic, inaugurated on June 28, 2023, is one of the first government facilities tailored to the transgender community. Over 100 individuals have registered for treatment, accessing gender-affirming hormone therapy, pre-surgical care and other essential health services.
“Before surgery, treatment is crucial,” said Dr Sahay. “Here, we’ve built a team of endocrinologists, surgeons, psychologists, neurologists and more — all working together to ensure comprehensive care,” he explained. He also informed that while Maitri clinics will be there across the state, for surgery people would have to come to OGH.
At present the OGH transgender clinic operates once a week, on Wednesdays, however, there are plans to expand it based on need. A unique feature of this clinic is its leadership by Dr Praachi Rathore and Dr Ruth John Paul, Telangana’s first transgender medical officers. But the Maitri Clinics may not have a similar representation.
Members of the transgender community have expressed mixed feelings. One individual shared, “It’s affordable and accessible - two things we have struggled with for years. But surgeries are not that common. The Puducherry government hospitals offer surgeries and the services are very accessible, though only for locals. We hope Telangana can achieve something similar soon.”
Apart from OGH, the MGM Hospital in Warangal set up its own transgender clinic in 2022, the first in the state so. Gandhi Medical Hospital also announced a transgender clinic in November. The Maitri Clinics aim to take such clinics to every district and also offer outpatient services twice a week.
Discussions are also underway for a transgender volunteer scheme. Hyderabad police commissioner C.V. Anand shared that a government order is expected soon, potentially aligning with the clinic launches. “We want to get this right - test, train and implement a proper process,” he said, citing that a structured approach is important. Other officials also informed that an update on this initiative could be expected within a week.
