Hyderabad: Bela Dawakhana cries for attention

Shalibanda : Suraj Bhan Bhagwati Bai Government Maternity Hospital which is famously known as 'Bela Dawakhana,' located in Hari Bowli, is being neglected by the government despite several problems. The century-old hospital needs more doctors and nursing staff to run the hospital. The Dawakhana is famous for maternity and pediatric services.

Bela Dawakhana is one of the oldest maternity hospitals in the Old City. It is more than 100-year-old. This famous hospital is being run with only 3 doctors and 8 nurses. "The hospital is special for maternity and childcare and is a 150-bedded hospital which will be almost full with patients if there are enough medical personnel. We are trying our best to attend to the out- and the in-patients. The hospital requires at least 20 members of staff including doctors, duty doctors, nurses and attendees," said a doctor on anonymity.

K Venkatesh, a Congress leader in Old City, said "Several leaders and even hospital authorities have submitted many representations to the higher authorities to appoint more doctors and nurses, but all those have been neglected. The patients come here because it is one of the oldest and the best maternity and children's hospitals. Daily at least 10 deliveries take place here, but the hospital is being neglected."

Every day, around 200 patients visit the hospital for consultation in out-patient ward, and the hospital caters to more than 100 in-patients. They are being treated by only 3 doctors and 8 nurses. "The government must appoint more staff for smooth run of the hospital. There is also a severe shortage of medicines. Doctors are asking patients to purchase medicines from outside. This shows the government's concern for public healthcare. At least, the government must provide medicines," Venkatesh noted.

Apart from the staff crunch, the hospital lies in a bad condition. The sanitation is in the worst condition. A heap of garbage is seen outside the hospital and debris inside the hospital near toilets. When asked, the staff replied that there is no staff even for cleaning the hospital.

"The hospital itself is far from cleanliness, and how can a patient be cured in a hospital?" ask patients. This shows the government's failure in healthcare. The government must respond now and appoint more doctors and other staff in the hospital," they demand.