Dilapidated Urban Primary Health Center scares away patients

Darulshifa: Apprehensive about the structural stability of the building which houses the Urban Primary Health Center (UPHC) near Purani Haveli X Roads in Darulshifa area, the patients are returning back without consulting the physicians.

The building housing the hospital is believed to be more than 50 years old and is slowly wearing out due to the neglect of the authorities. Even though the area hospital has ample staff with enough stock of medicines, but the building's condition is turning away the patients towards local private clinics.

Normally, there remains a full attendance of doctors who are ready to examine the patients, but the patients appear to be worried a lot about the structure. "Earlier the hospital had beds and other facilities and was also running a maternity center. But due to official neglect, it has been limited to a health center.

This hospital was one of the best government hospitals in surrounding areas and earlier the doctors would consult more than 200 patients daily. But now there is 50 percent reduction in the number of patients visiting the UPHC", said K Venkatesh, in charge Charminar Constituency, Congress party.

Speaking to The Hans India Venkatesh lamented that the government which was boastful of coming up with best hospitals has unfortunately failed to support the hospitals in Old City. One of the best area hospitals which earlier had maternity ward was now running out of patients.

Even the staff which was ready to attend the patients have blamed the poor maintenance of the building, which has slowly started crumbling the in the recent years. "Funds were sanctioned for its repairs, but are yet to be released, hence no works were taken up," said one of the staff members, on condition of anonymity.

In the recent rains, the staff also observed that there was a huge water leakage from roof causing water stagnation inside. To control the leakage a plastic tarpaulin was placed on roof by the staff. Earlier, a section of boundary wall also collapsed. Following this incident, the apprehensions amongst the patients only grew and number of patients further decreased.

"Several patients, including an infant visited the hospital for treatment of seasonal diseases. Just imagine, if something unexpected happens and roof collapses, who would be responsible for casualties," said Venkatesh. The Congress leader requested the government to act before the structure falls apart and build a completely new structure at the existing place.

Incidentally, the structure is not even listed in the GHMC's dilapidated structures, which would have invited some action from the authorities, either to restore or completely pull down the more than half a century old building before any accident takes place.