The Osmania General Hospital in the city has been playing a crucial role in handling emergency cases from Hyderabad.
Published Aug 03, 2024 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 03, 2024 | 4:11 PM
Osmania General Hospital. (Supplied)
In a refreshing move for the state, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy announced on Friday, 2 August that the new building for Osmania General Hospital (OGH) will be built in Goshamahal.
Addressing the Telangana State Assembly on the eve of 2 August, the CM assured that the land that is currently home to the police quarters will be cleared in the next 2-3 weeks and that the construction will commence shortly after that.
While assuring that the Osmania building’s cultural heritage will be preserved, he noted that it is the one thing that has been pending since the formation of the state.
It is important to note that, even though the former CM and BRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao visited the hospital and made assurances when BRS government was the ruling party, he failed to keep his promise. Naturally, in its manifesto just before the Assembly elections in November 2023, Revanth Reddy led Congress party told people in the state that it will be addressed.
The Osmania General Hospital, one of the oldest super-speciality hospitals in Hyderabad, has been playing a crucial role in handling emergency cases from Hyderabad, besides providing medical care to prisoners. Additionally, it has also been serving as a referral centre for patients requiring complex surgeries.
However, a significant turning point came on 15 July 2020, when a devastating flood forced the closure of the hospital’s century-old building.
Consequently, all patients were relocated to the newly constructed Quli Qutb Shah Block. However, the new block with limited facilities and a fewer number of beds could not effectively handle the load.
Over time, various organisations filed separate public interest litigations (PILs), requesting the court an order to conserve the old building, and to construct a new one in the remaining available area.
Meanwhile, the then Chief Minister instructed officials to ensure pharma majors used their CSR funds to improve housekeeping and maintenance services in government hospitals. The officials were directed to start it as a pilot project in either Osmania or Gandhi hospitals.
(Edited by Neena)
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