Problems Aplenty at OU Health Centre

 Hyderabad: The Osmania University (OU) Health Centre, designed to provide essential healthcare to its faculty, students and staff, is caught in a cascade of operational issues that compromises its service quality.

The centre’s problems intensified after its last permanent doctor retired on October 31, leaving the facility to be run entirely by contract staff, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other personnel.

“It’s hard to rely on a system that keeps changing faces and has no consistency in care,” said a research scholar at OU.

Currently, four out of the five doctors are employed on a contract basis, with one serving in a dependent role, creating a pressing need for stability and permanent appointments.

Basic facilities are woefully inadequate. Only two of three sanctioned nursing positions are filled — both by contract staff — while the pharmacy and physiotherapy units also depend solely on temporary workers.

An ECG machine remains largely unused due to the lack of trained staff.

“I’ve seen nurses doubling up as technicians. This compromises patient safety and highlights our dire need for permanent staff,” said Deepa N., a postgraduate student.

The health centre’s infrastructure issues extend beyond staffing. Beds are insufficient and the lack of privacy adds to the patient’s discomfort.

“Simple dignity and privacy are at stake here. We don’t have basic provisions to separate patient areas,” said a student representative.

The facility’s ability to store medicines, particularly temperature-sensitive ones, is severely hampered due to broken air conditioning units and a malfunctioning refrigerator.

“Essential equipment that requires cooling isn’t functioning because of these issues. Despite the executive council approving a budget increase to address the crisis, funds are yet to be sanctioned,” explained a healthcare centre employee.

The inadequate pay for contract staff has deterred qualified professionals from taking up positions, worsening the staffing crisis.

“Specialist doctors, mandated to visit thrice a week, often show up once or skip entirely, leaving us with few options but to go to Gandhi hospital or Tarnaka RTC hospital for emergency care,” said Nelli Satya, another research scholar.

The bureaucratic structure further complicates matters, as the in-charge registrar must oversee all health centre operations, even routine approvals for staff leave, slowing down processes and affecting service quality.

Allegations of irregularities in medicine procurement also cast a shadow over the health centre. The university allocates Rs 40 lakh annually for medicines, with 80 per cent dedicated to generic drugs through platforms like Jeevan Dhara. However, since the retirement of the chief medical officer, new medicines have not been procured, leading to scarcity and frustration.

“Patients come expecting essential medicines on specific days, only to return empty-handed,” said another student.

OU vice-chancellor Prof. Kumar Molugaram told Deccan Chronicle on being approached that he was focusing on administration work and would turn his attention to infrastructure works for which funds were being sought. “It has been brought to my notice and work on that will begin soon,” he said.