Unani hospital remains in a state of neglect

Karwan: Even as there is growing demand for alternative medicine, one of the oldest dispensaries in city, the Government Unani Dispensary (GUD) located at Mustaidpura in Karwan constituency continues to face neglect. Owing to lack of amenities, absence of doctors and medicines, the patients are being asked to visit a nearby dispensary several kilometers away.

The dispensary which earlier served the local population has slowly turned into place where anti-social elements and stray dogs can be seen. Though, the patients have been making rounds to the dispensary for the past 5 months in the hope of getting examined by the doctor, they are asked to visit other dispensaries, due to unavailability of the doctor.

Besides absence of a doctor, lack of amenities in the dispensary has been cause of much inconvenience to the patients, particularly at a time when most of the patients are shifting towards alternative medicine, in the wake of viral diseases and dengue spreading in the city.

No doctor deputed after post fell vacant

One of the women staff in the dispensary said that the matter was taken to the notice of the authorities concerned on several occasions, regarding the requirement of a doctor in the dispensary, but nothing has been initiated in this regard yet.

"A doctor, Basha, retired five months back and since the post has been lying vacant. We have no option but to guide the visiting patients. We are asking them to visit other dispensaries at Charminar, Golconda and Azampura," said Jaya Sheela, one of the lady staff in the dispensary.

People favouring Unani cry foul over apathy

As a majority of the people in the Old city areas continue to patronise indigenous Unani system of medicine, its demand has only gone up following spurt in the number of cases of viral fever and dengue. Men, women and children are using Unani medicines as precautionary steps to be protected. Moreover, the lower and the middle-class families residing in Karwan area are feeling the pinch to consult allopathic doctors, as they cannot afford the expenses of medicines and consultation fees.

"The allopathic medicines have been expensive for poor people in the city and every now and then, one after the other falls sick in my family. Owing to the ongoing current wave of seasonal diseases in the city, everyone is being affected by the viral fevers. If this dispensary worked properly, it would have provided some relief to the people of lower economic strata," lamented, Abdul Samad, one of the patients in the dispensary.