Telangana health minister Harish Rao ‘criticises’ Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan for ‘supporting’ demand for new building at Osmania General Hospital

the representation to the DME, Governor Soundararajan responded expressing her concern. “Concerned to see the dilapidated condition of the century old prestigious #OsmaniaGeneralHospital. Pride of this citadel of learning & healing must be restored soon,” she tweeted Tuesday night.

Minister T Harish Rao

Recently, Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi also flayed the state government for delay in starting the construction of a new building at the OGH. He asked why the needs of Hyderabadis were being neglected despite repeated requests from his party’s side.

After a social media post reminding the state government about the need for constructing a new building at Osmania General Hospital (OGH) in Hyderabad received ‘support’ from none other than Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, Telangana Health Minister T Harish Rao Wednesday retorted saying the Governor sees only politics and chooses to overlook the achievements of the government in the medical sector.

A group of junior doctors, alumni of OGH, paramedical and nursing staff, under the banner ‘Joint Association for New OGH’, have approached the Director of Medical Education (DME) listing out the hardships and inconveniences faced by health professionals as well as patients in the absence of sufficient space at the hospital.

They underlined the need for infrastructure to avoid overcrowding, especially in the wake of the increased inflow of patients.

To a tweet by the handle ‘Justice for OGH’, which shared some photographs as well as a copy of

Wednesday termed the Governor’s tweet as unfortunate. He said the number of outpatients visiting OGH, Gandhi Hospital, Niloufer Hospital, and Fever Hospital in the city has come down significantly due to the success of ‘basti dawakhanas’.

“The Governor does not see our achievements and does not appreciate the good work of our medical professionals but is quick to highlight the problems. The politics here is very clear,” the minister said, as he listed out the achievements of his department.

Recently, Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi also flayed the state government for delay in starting the construction of a new building at the OGH. He asked why the needs of Hyderabadis were being neglected despite repeated requests from his party’s side.

“This is blatant injustice against people of Hyderabad constituency. It is also a grave disservice to doctors, medical students & people of Telangana who come to Hyderabad for treatment. The dilapidated building doesn’t serve the needs of a modern hospital. The restoration of old building & construction was estimated to be ₹560 crores.

This amount is peanuts for a “prosperous” state govt that seems to have funds for everything in the world. What’s the use of public money if it’s not helping the poorest get life saving healthcare? What other reason is there for the delay in starting work on Osmania?” he tweeted.

The health minister said that chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao had visited the hospital in 2015 and announced Rs 200 crore to construct a new building but some people approached the court against this. While a group has approached the court seeking protection and conservation of the century-old heritage block, another group has sought demolition of all buildings for the construction of a new hospital building efficiently utilising the 26-acre campus.

The heritage block was vacated in 2020 when rainwater entered the building. Following this, patients have been accommodated in makeshift arrangements in the equally dilapidated outpatient block and Quli Qutb Shah building.

During his visit to the hospital in May last year, Harish Rao assured protection of the heritage block and said that the government would construct the new infrastructure by taking into account the recommendations of the courtappointed experts’ committee on the structural stability of the OGH and directions of the Telangana High Court. The six-member committee informed the court in July 2022 that the heritage block could be repaired and used for non-hospital purposes.

A doctor associated with Joint Association for New OGH, requesting anonymity, told indianexpress.com that the government is yet to submit its decision before the court.

“The committee has informed the government and in turn the court that the building cannot be used. During the last hearing on December 13, 2022, the HC asked the government to decide what it wants to do.

The court sought a comprehensive proposal and the government has not taken a decision yet,” he said. Adding that many patients are suffering and the government has to decide fast, he said, “We want a new building for the OGH. We cannot continue in this building, the government must act immediately in the interest of patients.”

An official from the hospital administration admitted overcrowding in the hospital. “We can put 1,157 beds depending on the needs and demands of units. There is overcrowding but it is due to space constraints and not because of the increased inflow of patients.

If you put 15 beds in the space for 10 beds there will be overcrowding,” he added. Hospital Superintendent Dr B Nagender was not available for comment.