Patients flock to local hospitals

Hyderabad: With junior doctors on strike in major government hospitals, patients are flocking to various Area Hospitals and urban PHCs in GHMC limits for medical treatment.

Nearly 20 to 30 per cent jump of out-patients has been witnessed in these hospitals and health centres during the last few days.

It may be mentioned here that patients' footfall has dropped considerably in OGH (Osmania General Hospital) and Gandhi Hospitals in the last few days due to ongoing junior doctors strike.

As the impact of junior doctors strike on services in major government hospitals have has been highlighted by the media, some people have zeroed in on other government hospitals and health centres where services are not affected since junior doctors are not on rolls in these wings.

There are seven Area Hospitals, one District Hospital in King Koti and over 80 urban PHCs are located in the State capital. According to doctors, footfall has jumped considerably in some of these hospitals.

Dr Deen Dayal, a doctor at an urban PHC in the Old City and Hyderabad president of TGGDA Hyderabad wing, the number of patients visiting PHCs increased by 20 to 30 per cent in the last few days.

For major diseases, patients have no option but to visit tertiary hospitals, but for common ailments and treatments urban PHCs are no less important, he said.

In the Dar-ul-Shifa PHC, nearly 120 patients have been visiting every day for last few days as against the average of 80 patients per day earlier.

Take the case of Area Hospital, Malakpet, where patients footfall has increased by over 20 per cent in the last few days compared to any regular day of a week.

Here usually 700 patients come for OP treatment per day on an average. Hospital superintendent Dr Badrinath said that they are ensuring every patient visiting the hospital gets treatment during OP timings and even after that.

With junior doctors not in a mood to relent on their stir opposing NMC Bill, it can be expected that patients rush in hospitals under TVVP and DH in the state capital would continue for some more days.