NALGONDA: The government’s assurance of corporate style facilities at government hospitals and treatment to the poor seems confined to statements. The reality is different. In Nalgonda district, there are 74 primary health centres, 6 area hospitals and one district headquarter hospital.
Though the district hospital’s capacity is only 250, the intake of patents is around 380 on a regular basis. Doctors are forced to make do with limited facilities at the hospital. Further, doctors have to attend to 600 outpatients on an average. The 50-year-old hospital is in urgent need of upgradation of facilities.
In order to keep the hospital clean and provide hygienic conditions, a private organisation was engaged, which is charging `6 lakh per month. It has engaged 35 members, while the hospital needs at least 120 members for maintaining cleanliness round-the-clock.
Even Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister T Rajaiah, during his recent visit to the hospital, expressed his dismay and displeasure over the sorry state of sanitation and upkeep of the hospital. Though district collector T Chirajnjeevulu had time and again counselled the hospital management on the need to maintain hygienic conditions, his advice has fallen on deaf ears.
Even the Swachh Bharath programme taken up in the hospital on October 2 was in the name only with no worker asked to participate and the officials present there sweeping the corridors for few minutes so photographs could be take to say they too had participated.
A day before Gandhi Jayanthi, Commissioner For Telangana Vaidya Vidhan Parishad R Veena Kumari inspected the hospital and expressed her displeasure over the prevailing sanitary conditions in the hospital. When she pulled up the hospital authorities, they complained that shortage of staff had tied up their hands and what ever funds released could only get 35 workers to work. She assured to take up the matter with the Government.
With shortage of staff and hospital superintendent Harinadh also acting as incharge DCHS, he is unable to do justice to the hospital. Situation in the PHCs is even worse. Lack of sanitation and the absence of doctors are issues for PHCs. One finds only nurses at most PHCs.