Activists write open letter to Telangana CM, point at issues in govt hospitals
HYDERABAD “If the public is drifting away from government hospitals and being pushed into the clutches of the corporate healthcare system, it is undeniably because politicians and governments lack genuine sincerity,” said 115 citizens and activists in an open letter to Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha. The letter accused successive governments of failing to strengthen public healthcare, alleging that the lack of basic amenities in government hospitals is driving patients towards private healthcare.
Gaps in basic facilities The letter highlights concerns over drinking water facilities, toilets, sanitation and the maintenance of infrastructure at major government hospitals in Hyderabad, including Osmania General Hospital, Gandhi Hospital, Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), Niloufer Hospital and Petlaburj Maternity Hospital. The signatories — comprising social activists, academics, writers, journalists, teachers and other citizens — questioned whether the government’s promises to improve public healthcare translated into better conditions for patients.
Is the problem a lack of medical expertise or basic facilities? The signatories argued that the challenges confronting government hospitals cannot be viewed solely through the lens of shortages of doctors and other medical personnel. The signatories acknowledged that healthcare workers were already working under considerable pressure, but said the absence of basic amenities was adding to the difficulties faced by patients.
“Government hospitals have experienced doctors, medical staff and research capabilities, but inadequate facilities are undermining the healthcare experience,” they added. Referring to Osmania, Gandhi, NIMS, Niloufer and Petlaburj hospitals, the signatories questioned why patients should have to endure difficult conditions to access treatment when the institutions were expected to provide essential public healthcare services.
When basic amenities become a question of dignity They have identified clean drinking water, functional toilets and proper sanitation as among the most pressing requirements in public hospitals. Questioning the government’s responsibility for maintaining these facilities, the signatories asked whether patients should be held responsible for unhygienic conditions and unpleasant odours in hospital toilets, arguing that the responsibility for maintenance rested with the authorities.
They said patients who could afford private healthcare might choose to seek treatment elsewhere, but those unable to bear the additional expense were left with fewer options. Should hospital maintenance be handed over to private entities? The signatories also cautioned the government against transferring responsibility for maintaining basic hospital amenities to corporate entities under the banner of public participation as doing so would impose an additional financial burden on patients.
They called for the government to take responsibility for improving existing infrastructure and ensuring that essential facilities were properly maintained. They further questioned the emphasis placed on changing photographs on walls and ambulances after a government assumes office, arguing that the same attention should be directed towards providing basic amenities in hospitals.
A call for a Right to Health law Beyond immediate improvements to hospital infrastructure, the signatories urged the Telangana government to introduce a strong Right to Health law through consultations with people’s organisations and public. They called for a broader effort to strengthen the public health and medical system so that ordinary citizens would not be compelled to abandon government hospitals because of inadequate facilities.
