Hyderabad's oldest pet hospital still in ancient' era
Animal centre in dire need of upgradation, more medicines and labs.
Hyderabad: The Government Veterinary Hospital, which is the oldest in the city, awaits modernisation.
According to historians, the hospital was started during the Nizam’s rule along with Osmania General Hospital, the Government Nizamia (Tibbi) General Hospital, and the Government Homeopathy Hospital.
Mr M.A. Qayyum, a historian, says, “The hospital was started with the intention of attending to the medical needs of animals, including the royal horses, elephants and camels.”
The hospital was initially established at the Madina Building, as were Osmania General Hospital and the Government Nizamia (Tibbi) General Hospital. Dr M.A. Rahman, a former superintendent of the hospital, said, “The superintendent level rank was adopted as the Nizam wanted all hospitals to be headed by senior doctors who could run them effectively.”
The hospital moved several locations before occupying its permanent place at Chandrayangutta. The hospital is now centrally located and thus accessible to the Old City.
Hospital superintendent Dr M.A. Saboor said, “Every day around 30 pet dogs are brought here for treatment. We give what treatment we can, and refer complicated cases to the hospitals in Seetarambagh or Narayanguda, which have better facilities.”
The staff attends to 150 to 200 animals every day, including goats, horses, buffaloes, ducks, pigeons and hens.
However, the facility is riddled with problems including shortage of medicines, absence of facilities such as X-ray machines, and ill-equipped laboratories.
As it is the only veterinary hospital in Old City, people from areas as far as Edi Bazaar, Rein Bazaar, Kishan Bagh, Misrigunj, Shaheenagar, and Hafeez Babanagar bring their pets for treatment. The stress on the hospital will reduce if dispensaries are introduced at Chandulal Baradari, Edi Bazaar and Pathergatti.
Mr Shakeelullah Baig, a businessman from Edi Bazaar, said, “Though the animals are treated for free, we spend a huge amount on transporting them to the hospital. At times we are asked to buy the medicines from outside.” People want the facilities at the hospital to improve so that their pets have access to better healthcare.
Mr Fahad Bin Abdul Samad, MIM corporator from Uppuguda, said he would bring this issue to the notice of his party floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi and ensure that facilities at the hospital are improved.