OGH relocation begins with shifting of patients

Hyderabad: The relocation of Osmania General Hospital (OGH) started on Wednesday with the shifting of 24 patients, three assistant professors, seven specialists, six junior doctors and 14 nurses of the orthopaedic department to King Koti district hospital.

According to sources, the government has decided to shift general medicine, general surgery, medical gastroenterology and surgical gastroenterology to the Sultan Bazar Maternity hospital. The patients at Sultan Bazar Maternity hospital would be shifted to the Government Maternity Hospital, Petlaburj.

The neurology, neurosurgery, CT surgery, cardiology, emergency department, outpatient, radiology, microbiology and pathology will function from Osmania Hospital. For shifting patients and other staff to hospitals the government will purchase 10 ambulances and two mini-buses. Differences have cropped up among the medical community on diagnostic facilities due to relocation of the OGH patients to other hospitals.

Dr B Nagender of OGH felt the need of strengthening lab facilities at Sultan Bazar hospital. As the hospital was running without CT and MRI scan, there was a need to provide such facilities, he said. Indian Medical Association, Telangana State, president Dr Shyamsunder, said some medical services may be affected due to shifting for which patients have to suffer for lack of diagnostic facilities.

Speaking on the issue, Telangana Junior Doctors’ Association president Dr G Srinivas said that all the diagnostic facilities should be shifted to Sultan Bazar Hospital. Dr Vinay Kumar, an OGH student, opined that emergency cases should not be shifted as it would create problems in utilising services like CT scan.