Out of Sight, Out of Mind: TIMS Awaits Decision on its Fate

Hyderabad: The Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences (TIMS), which was established in 2020 during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, is in a dilapidated condition, with only one duty doctor on the morning shift and three nurses. Located in the IT corridor, the 11-storey building, which was earlier the sports hostel of the G.M.C. Balayogi stadium, has no more than a dozen patients.

The doctor and nurses are contractual employees who have not received the salary for two months now.

The spot check by Deccan Chronicle comes amid a ‘White Coat Revolution’ claimed by health minister T, Harish Rao in the Assembly session held in August when he also announced four more Tims for the city. The building has become a spot for stray dogs.

At the Gachibowli Tims, eight ICU units with 225 oxygen beds, and 741 beds have been locked for more than a year. Medical equipment has been moved out to other government hospitals.

The plan is to develop it as a medical school and government hospital. Not much of that is in evidence.

A health official at the TIMS told Deccan Chronicle: “Since past one year, only the ground floor has been in use. The rest of the building is shut for repair and maintenance work. Talks were going on to make this place a full-fledged hospital with tertiary care. However, nothing has come of it so far.”

The official said that only out-patients visit the hospital, with the majority of them seeking consultation for diabetes, hypertension and fevers. Emergency cases are referred to either the Kondapur Area Hospital or Gandhi Hospital.

The official said that 86 medical officers and 250 nursing staff who were deputed to the hospital till March were eventually deputed to other government hospitals, leaving only one general medical officer and three staff nurses here.

Forty-seven outsourced employees look after the maintenance, including reception, sanitation and sample collection lab. Two ambulances and electric buggies remain parked inside the building, they are rarely used.

The approach road to the hospital is also in poor condition, with the official attributing inaction to the fact that only dwellers from nearby slums visit the facility.