Specialty services at Cantt hospital from Monday

Bolarum: Specialty services would be available from Monday at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Cantonment General Hospital at Bollarum. A gynaecologist, ophthalmologist and radiologist would be available from 9 am. to 2 pm.  

Gynaecology, Ophthalmology and Radiology services to be available from 9 am to 2 pm

K Manju Rani, medical superintendent, Cantonment General Hospital said, “The registration fee would be just Rs 10 as is the case for all other consultations.”  The hospital has four permanent general doctors and the specialist doctors would be paid an honorarium.  

 The hospital authorities have been requesting the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) for additional staff. Presently there are four doctors and one is retiring in June. Apart from the general doctors there is a dentist and a pediatrician but senior staff say that there is a huge requirement as the hospital caters to more than 350 outpatients a day.

Officials at SCB say that in due course more number of doctors would be added. The hospital was inaugurated by the then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in June 2016. The 30-bedded hospital however, is functioning as a dispensary as in-patient service has not started due to lack of staff. The hospital was built at a cost of Rs 5.2 Cr and was previously known as the Cantonment Infectious Diseases Hospital.

The Telangana Government decided to seek funds under National Urban Health Mission scheme to upgrade the hospital. Under the scheme, centre would be contributing 75 per cent of the fund while the remaining 25 per cent is to be taken care by the state government.

Locals say that there is an urgent need for a trauma care unit as the hospital is close to the Rajiv Rahadari route. There are a number of accident cases that have to be referred to Gandhi Hospital. “A number of lives can be saved if accident cases are treated immediately,” says Arvind a resident of Macha Bollarum.