The new OGH, with its state-of-the-art facilities, is set to transform public healthcare in Hyderabad while preserving the hospital's heritage.
Published Jan 31, 2025 | 6:30 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 31, 2025 | 6:30 PM
Design of Osmania General Hospital.
Friday, 31 January 2025 marked a historic moment for Telangana’s healthcare system as Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy laid the foundation stone for the new Osmania General Hospital (OGH) in Goshamahal. The ceremony signalled the end of decades of neglect and struggle for one of India’s most iconic medical institutions. The new OGH, with its state-of-the-art facilities, is set to transform public healthcare in Hyderabad while preserving the hospital’s heritage.
Only select guests were allowed to enter Goshamahal Stadium for the inauguration. Members of the Telangana Junior Doctors Association (TJUDA) gathered away from the main stage where politicians and officials sat, waiting for the Chief Minister to perform the bhoomi pooja and lay the foundation stone.
“I’m no longer part of Osmania General Hospital, but I was previously with TJUDA at the institute,” said a junior doctor among the crowd. “This is the moment we have been waiting for years,” echoed the TJUDA members, reflecting on their long campaign for a new hospital.
#Telangana chief minister @revanth_anumula laid the foundation stone for the new #OsmaniaGeneralHospital building in #Hyderabad. pic.twitter.com/8X0OlY5UYU
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) January 31, 2025
Osmania General Hospital, originally established as Afzalgunj Hospital in 1866, has been a cornerstone of Hyderabad’s medical history. It pioneered medical advancements, including the Hyderabad Chloroform Commission of 1888, which proved the safety of chloroform anaesthesia.
The hospital’s transformation took place under the patronage of Mir Osman Ali Khan, the last Nizam of the erstwhile Hyderabad state, who commissioned a new Indo-Saracenic building in 1919. British architect Vincent Jerome Esch designed this architectural marvel, which became a symbol of medical excellence and a landmark of Hyderabad’s commitment to modern healthcare.
Over the decades, OGH played a pivotal role in shaping medical education in Telangana. Osmania Medical College, initially housed within the hospital, moved to its new campus in Koti in 1966.
Despite its rich legacy, Osmania General Hospital began facing infrastructure challenges as the years passed. In 2010, the Andhra Pradesh government allocated ₹200 crore for renovation, but protests stalled the project.
After Telangana’s formation, then Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao proposed demolishing the old structure in 2015, sparking widespread controversy among historians, medical professionals and heritage conservationists.
Still the final blow came in July 2020, when severe flooding submerged the old building in sewage water, making it unfit for medical use. “The old building was a heritage site, but it had become a hazard. Patients and doctors alike suffered due to the lack of basic facilities,” said a JUDA member.
Staff relocated patients to the Quli Qutb Shah Block, a newer but smaller section of the hospital, which struggled to accommodate the enormous patient load.
The struggle to modernise Osmania General Hospital (OGH) has been long and challenging. Officials proposed plans for renovation and expansion as early as 2010, but bureaucratic delays, protests and legal obstacles thwarted progress.
Heritage conservationists fought to preserve the old building, while doctors and patients increasingly demanded a new, functional facility to serve the growing healthcare needs. “The previous government spent thousands of crores on new hospitals but neglected Osmania, which serves the poorest of the poor,” lamented a member of the Telangana Junior Doctors Association (TJUDA).
The legal battles reached a crucial turning point in 2023, when the Telangana government submitted an affidavit to the High Court, proposing the demolition of the old building to make way for a new, modern hospital. “The old building is unfit for hospital purposes. We need a modern facility to meet the growing healthcare demands,” stated Health Secretary SAM Rizvi at the time.
The government’s decision to move forward with the new construction while respecting the heritage value of the old structure met with cautious optimism.
While supporting the new construction, heritage conservationists emphasised the importance of preserving the old building’s cultural significance. “Osmania is not just a hospital; it is a part of Hyderabad’s cultural heritage. The old building should be restored and repurposed for public use,” said Anuradha Reddy of INTACH to South First.
For alumni like Dr Shyam Tapadia, the prospect of a new OGH is a bittersweet moment. “I spent 12 years at Osmania, and it pains me to see its decline. But I am hopeful that the new hospital will restore its glory and serve the people of Telangana for generations to come,” he told South First.
However, the situation took a different turn under the new Congress government. Instead of demolishing the old structure, officials decided to retain it as a heritage site. They chose the Police Ground in Goshamahal as the location for the new hospital, allowing for the preservation of the old building while making space for the much-needed modern healthcare facility.
The new Osmania General Hospital (OGH), set to be constructed at a cost of ₹2,700 crores, will cover an expansive area of 26 acres and 30 guntas, with a built-up area of 32 lakh square feet, meticulously adhering to National Medical Commission (NMC) and Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) norms.
The hospital’s design incorporates cutting-edge features, including 2,000 beds, 41 operating theatres, and specialised facilities for robotic surgery and organ transplants. With these state-of-the-art provisions, the hospital aims to offer world-class medical care.
“The new hospital will be a game-changer for public healthcare in Telangana. It will provide comprehensive services under one roof, eliminating the need for referrals to private hospitals,” said Health Minister C Damodar Raja Narasimha. The new hospital will also house a 500-bed ICU, a 750-seat auditorium, and modern educational facilities for nursing, dental, and physiotherapy colleges.
Additionally, a helipad will ensure swift transport for critical patients. The project will also include the relocation of a government school, ensuring continued access to education for local students.
The foundation stone-laying ceremony of the new Osmania General Hospital (OGH) has sparked a range of emotions among those who have witnessed the institution’s struggles over the years.
“I joined Osmania Medical College because of its longstanding reputation, but the infrastructure was disappointing,” shared a student from Osmania Medical College who attended the event. “The new hospital will attract top talent and provide better care for patients, which is what we’ve all been hoping for.”
For many, Osmania has been more than just a hospital—it has been a lifeline. “Osmania has been a beacon of hope for the people of Hyderabad for over a century,” said a local resident. “The new hospital will honour this legacy while meeting the healthcare needs of the future.”
“The new hospital will be a game-changer for public healthcare in Telangana,” said Health Minister C Damodar Raja Narasimha during the ceremony. “It will offer state-of-the-art services under one roof, eliminating the need for referrals to private hospitals.”
He went on to highlight that the project would include a 500-bed ICU, a 750-seat auditorium, and modern educational facilities for nursing, dental, and physiotherapy colleges.
The minister also reflected on the hospital’s century-long legacy. “Osmania General Hospital has provided vital medical services to the poor for over 100 years. It is not only a hospital but also a prestigious institution for medical education, having produced doctors who are recognised worldwide.”
“For decades, doctors, medical staff, and local residents have demanded a new hospital. Today, we are fulfilling that long-standing aspiration with the foundation stone for the new Osmania General Hospital,” the minister said, expressing pride in the project’s potential to provide world-class healthcare facilities.
He also addressed earlier proposals to shift the hospital to Charlapalli or another location, explaining that Osmania’s deep connection to the people of the region since 1919 made such a decision unthinkable. “Recognising this historical and emotional significance, the Chief Minister decided to retain the hospital in its current area.”
He emphasised that a site in Goshamahal, close to the existing hospital, had been chosen for the new building. “The police department still retains over 11 acres of land here. We are deeply appreciative of their cooperation and the support of the people of Goshamahal in making this project a reality,” he said.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
