ALL IS WELL OUTSIDE: A view of the historic Osmania General Hospital on the banks of the Musi in Hyderabad. — Photo Mohd. Yousuf

HYDERABAD: Solving the riddles that plague Osmania General Hospital (OGH) appear as tough as making the adjacent Musi flow smoothly as it used to a century ago.

The optimistic say that it all depends on the enthusiasm of the Government, on whose part, discussions and promises for OGH have so far not gone beyond the gates of the Legislative Assembly.

OGH, housed in a 125-year-old heritage building, has a list of problems starting from the building itself.

Leaking roofs and feeble walls, an overloaded drainage system that can crash any moment, absence of hostels for junior doctors, lack of an integrated operation theatre complex and latest equipment and defunct lifts are just starters on the menu here.

Among the largest hospitals in Andhra Pradesh, with a daily inflow of 1,500 outpatients and nearly 300 patients for its super-specialities, 20 new wards were added to OGH's Golden Jubilee OP block and the Quli Qutb Shah building since 1981.

However, mandatory enhancements like increased staff strength, modified and adequate equipment, augmented drainage systems and maintenance funds never came.

Revamping the drainage itself could cost Rs. 2 crores, because existing pipes were laid before 1925.

Tight ropewalk

The number of nurses here is 400. That has been so for 23 years now, in spite of Nursing Council of India stipulations on the nurse strength.

At least 500 more nurses will make affairs quite easy. But since such luxuries are out of bounds for the 1,168-bed hospital, the management has submitted a proposal for 150 nurses. Even that is yet to materialise.

The hospital is walking on a tight rope in sanitary matters too since no Class IV employee has been recruited since 1981. Filthy corridors and filthier latrines stand testimony to this.

Lack of equipment

OGH's post-operative care system too has shortcomings. Monitoring systems for each bed in intensive care units, one nurse per bed, ventilators and other life support equipment are required.

There is no MRI equipment too, while the only CT Scan is overworked. "We can't complain about the CT Scan, because Gandhi Hospital does not have even one," remarks a doctor.

The hospital's plans for an integrated operation theatre complex in the Doctors' Lounge bringing together 11 existing theatres from three blocks, has hit a roadblock since heritage preservation rules prohibit changes to the basic structures.

Work is going on at a hectic pace on one side of OGH to add a super specialty block for nephrology, urology and plastic surgery. But there is no talk on recruiting doctors to vacant super specialties posts including cardiology, nephrology, endocrinology and plastic surgery.

"We cannot blame the Government. Advertisements were given, but no qualified doctor was interested," says Superintendent V. Ashok Kumar.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail