PAC prescribes remedy for Osmania Hospital ills

• Need to preserve hospital as a heritage site
• Govt urged to put an end to sex determination tests

Hyderabad: The Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday called upon the government to take immediate steps to protect the Osmania General Hospital building, which is a heritage site.

The committee, which met under the chairmanship of R Prakash Reddy, reviewed several issues pertaining to health department in the State and felt that since Osmania Hospital happens to be one of the oldest hospitals in the city, the government should focus attention on improving the facilities in the hospital.

If necessary, a new building for the hospital should also be constructed, the committee felt. It said that there was shortage of doctors and facilities in Osmania Hospital.

The PAC urged the government to fill the vacancies of surgeons by paying higher salaries and ensure that necessary and modern diagnostic equipment was made available

The committee also asked the government to take stern measures to put an end to sex determination tests and take stern action against the diagnostic centres or hospitals indulging in such acts. Another recommendation the committee made was to improve the facilities in primary health centres.