Shifting of OGH hits roadblock

Government has proposed to relocate general medicine and general surgery wings to Maternity Hospital as part of a plan to build high-rise complex in the place of old structure housing the Osmania General Hospital. But the process has not moved forward due to dearth of funds

Hyderabad: Proposal to relocate the Osmania General Hospital (OGH) to Petlaburj Maternity Hospital has hit the buffers.

The failure on the part of the authorities release funds for shifting of the OGH and buying new medical equipment is stated to be the reason for abrupt halting of relocation.

Telangana State Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao announced on July 23 announced that the OGH would be relocated to Maternity Hospital within a week.

The apathy on the part of the Health and Finance Departments is said to have caused the delay in carrying out the task.

It may be recalled that Minister for Health C Laxma Reddy along with the OGH doctors went round the hospitals in the city and decided to shift the OGH’s General Medicine and General Surgery Department to Petlaburj Maternity Hospital.

The doctors had also identified a block in the Maternity Hospital for relocating the departments and they suggested that it required some repairs.

A doctor on the condition of anonymity said “operation theatre, lighting equipment, four operation tables, medical gas lines, Intensive Care Unit and other theatre equipments and consumables should be provided.”

According to officials, the Telangana State Medical Services and Infrastructure Department (TMSIDC) sent estimates to the Director of Medical Education (DME) and sought Rs 40 lakh for shifting and transporting of material from the OGH.

The DME sent an estimate of around Rs 7 crore for procurement of the new medical equipment for starting medical and surgical services. A file regarding shifting and procurement was pending with Finance Department.

When contacted, R Venugopal Rao, Managing Director of the TMSIDC, said funds were not released so far by the government. “If things move at such a slow pace, it will take another six months to shift,” said an OGH doctor.

Meanwhile, Telangana Nurses Association demanded that the government recruit the nursing staff as per the Indian Nursing Council of India norms.

G Vishwashanthi, State General Secretary, and M Jayamma Joint Secretary of the Association, said that it was very difficult to work without sufficient staff at Petlaburj hospital.

By:v naveen kumar