New hostel for doctors has no cots

Hyderabad: Nearly 100 post-graduate doctors from Niloufer Hospital, Government Chest Hospital and Institute of Mental Health are being forced to live in rented accommodations despite a brand new 140-room hostel. The reason? TS Medical Services Infrastructure Development Corporation has not given money to purchase cots for the hostel located on the Osmania Medical College premises.

This has not just affected PG doctors from the three hospitals but also PG doctors from OMC, who are currently staying in an old building which is in dire need of repairs. Doctors are spending thousands of rupees every month from their stipend on private rented accommodations. What is worse is that their stipends are being delayed too — they have not been paid for two months.

A PG doctor from Chest Hospital said, “We are few in number so we cannot make much noise. A few months ago, when we had held protests, we were promised accommodation in the new hostel at the Osmania Medical College.” But they were given no dates. “Our hostels should be located in the premises of the hospital where we work so that we are always available. Until that hostel is constructed, we should be at least given accommodation in the new hostel,” he said.

Asked about the problems being faced by the doctors, an official from the health department said the Medical Services Infrastructure Deve-lopment Corporation had not provided funds to purchase cots.  “And the stipends are late because the finance department is delaying releasing funds. If it releases money on time we will pay students on the first of every month. We do not like to see the students suffer.”