Committed to building a new OGH structure: Health Minister

Hyderabad: Minister for health, medical and family welfare C. Damodar Rajanarasimha on Friday assured doctors that the government acknowledged the need for a new building for the Osmania General Hospital and was “committed to constructing one, either on the OGH premises or in nearby areas.”

The minister said this on the sidelines of inaugurating a string of projects worth ₹16.68 crore at the Osmania General Hospital. Rajanarasimha unveiled an MRI machine worth ₹13.97 crore, a diet kitchen and an OP centre renovated at ₹1.6 crore and ₹34.39 lakh, respectively. Other modernisation works were valued at ₹5.90 crore.

Emphasising the need for upgrading the hospital's infrastructure, the minister said he will discuss with the chief minister about the plans to lay the foundation stone for a new building for the hospital. “Despite challenges, doctors, nurses and staff at Osmania Hospital are providing excellent services. We have planned to construct a building for the GNM Nursing College hostel soon as the old one, built in 1951, is in a dilapidated condition. The government has decided to strengthen the primary and secondary health sectors and is revising the rates in the Aarogyasri Health Care Trust,” he said.

The government's responsibility is to provide quality education and better medical care to the poor. The question is not of a new building or big statues. We must provide better healthcare to the poor. Osmania represents the pride of Hyderabad and we must preserve it, he added.