Hyderabad city to have 12 more Basthi Dawakhanas

Hyderabad: By June end, the city will have 12 more Basthi Dawakhanas. At present, there are 58 dawakhanas. Another additional facility is the introduction of diagnostic centers at the dawakhanas. Diagnostic centers are being run on a trial basis at 10 dawakhanas. Officials say that by May 15, all the remaining ones too would have them.

These include 11 centers in East Zone covering Kapra, Uppal and Hayathnagar circles, 13 in the south zone covering Malakpet, Charminar and Rajendranagar, Chandrayagutta circles, 11 in the central zone covering Goshamahal, Musheerabad and Amberpet circles, 11 in the west zone covering Moosapet, and Kukatpally,Yousufgura and 12 in the north zone covering Alwal, Malkajgiri, Secunderabad, and Begumpet circles.

This dawakhana was initiated by TRS working president KT Rama Rao in 2018 and this center was implemented first in Delhi, the concept called Mohalla clinic in 2017.

The Basthi Dawakhana initiative is a collaboration of GHMC and Mission of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) to provide free primary health services to the poor people in the urban area. The purpose of the Basthi Dawakhanas is to provide free health service and also free medicines to poor people.

It provides outpatient consultation for minor ailments, screening for blood, blood pressure, anemia, provide basic diagnostic services, provides anti-natal, postnatal care and also provide family planning and health awareness campaign and till now they have conducted more 10 awareness campaign in the health centers.

A majority of the doctors, nurses and other paramedical staff at these health centers are employed on a contract basis and each Dawakhana has a doctor, a nurse, one paramedical staff and one person for diagnostic service. The medical staff is appointed by District Medical Health Officers.

"By the last week of June, 12 more Basthi Dawakhana would come up. This concept was launched in 2018 and now totally they are 58 Basthi Dawakhanas. We will get supply of medicines from the Central Drug Store with support by Telangana State Medical Services Infrastructure Development Corporation (TSMSIDC). Medicines are supplied every month," says D Sai Varun, City Programme Officer, NHM.

He also said the Basthi Dawakhana is funded by the National Health Mission (NHM). There are no such fixed funds, and based on the requirement the funds are released. GHMC identifies the community hall near the slum areas and then TSMSIDS established the health center, and water facilities are provided by Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) and electricity is provided by Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.

Dr Sujatha Valvadas, General Physician, Basthi Dawakhana at Shyamala Building, said that the response is very good. "Daily 80 patients come here for free check-ups and we also provide free medicines to the patients and also very supportive medical staff who are supporting us." She further said that they provide consultant service to poor people and in some cases they send critical patients to the government hospital for further treatment. Till now, 15 emergency cases were attended to, she said.