Hyderabad: Why should government employees, ministers and their families not visit government hospitals for treatment? When the Governor E.S.L. Narismhan goes for health check-ups and gets treatment for all his ailments at Gandhi Hospital and Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences why are others unwilling to go?
Mr Narismhan had a severe swelling in his left thigh four years ago and underwent a minor surgery at Gandhi Hospital. The cyst containing fat had him quite worried and he and his wife walked quietly into the hospital for a day’s stay. If the Governor is comfortable why are others hesitant?
This incident of the Governor and the neglected state of government hospitals and facilities had last year provoked the Osmania Old Boys’ Association who asked the united Andhra Pradesh government to consider government clinics and hospitals for treatment first.
Dr A. Gopal Kishan former superintendent of Osmania General Hospital and an active member of the association says, “OGH’s condition in 2013 made us put forth this demand. We have met all the senior officers and also the health secretary and apprised them of the situation. But as the new state is now formed and they are yet to settle down, we are waiting to put forward our demand again.”
The demand comes from the fact that if ministers, their family members and government employees visit the government hospital then there will be confidence, and also, the cases of neglect can be minimised.
The frequent visits will give ministers an insight into the workings of the hospital and also sensitise them towards the need to ensure proper infrastructure and technological facilities.
The major complaint from most of patients is lack of cleanliness. Health ministers of both the states, Dr T Rajaiah and Kamineni Srinivas have been flooded with complaints of unhygienic conditions and improper treatment of patients. A senior secretary for Telangana said, “The demand from the doctors is not pursued or conceded. The people who occupy public office must set examples. If they go to the government institutions their examples make others go for it.”
For example, the present Governor of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh K. Rosaiah got his by-pass surgery done at Nims hospital. When ministers come forward like this, the message is very clear.
In Vijaywada, Visakhapatnam and Guntur areas the doctors are complaining about lack of facilities but the flipside is that most of them are not present at work during their full working hours.
Mr Srinivas, in a recent meeting with government doctors, asked them to stay full-time in the hospital and ensure that patients are looked after properly. The Osmania Old Boys Association wants a GO to be issued as this alone will bring in the long lasting change required to strengthen government hospitals.
