HYDERABAD: Cracking down on the government for painting a rosy picture of Koti government maternity hospital by hiding poor treatment and facilities, the Telangana high court on Thursday directed Syed Ali Murtuza Rizvi, principal secretary (health and family welfare), to set things right within four weeks and furnish a report.
"If there is a health problem, you and I would go to Apollo or AIG hospitals. For us there is no problem, but what about the poor who are dying on the streets?" a bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili asked.
The bench was hearing a PIL taken up by the court six years ago that gave details of problems faced by patients visiting the hospital.
The bench had asked amicus curiae K Kiran Mayee to visit the hospital and submit an independent report. Kiran Mayee visited the hospital on December 30 last year and Feb 8 this year and found major lapses, including 157 vacant medical posts out of sanctioned strength of 244 posts.
'Hosp staff ask for Rs 5k-Rs 10k to hand over newborns to moms'
Only 87 posts have been filled with doctors, nurses and paramedics and they are being overburdened with work. For the last 47 years, the sanctioned bed strength of this hospital remained static at 160.
While the state has built two blocks each having five floors for accommodating several sections of this maternity hospital, they are lying unused, despite their completion long ago.
"Only two floors in one block are used and the remaining floors are lying unused. The staff at the hospital are demanding Rs 5000 to Rs 10,000 for handing over newborns to their moms and relatives at the labour rooms," the amicus said in her report.
"Even for cleaning the premises and walls, they are demanding money from the families of the patients," she added.
She also found the night shelter locked and attendants of patients were not aware of the facility and were sleeping in the waiting hall, which was not sufficient to accommodate all of them.
Despite tall claims made by the authorities in their counters, the ground reality shown by the amicus is truly disturbing, the bench said.
"All your reports are eyewash measures," the bench said, addressing state counsel Radhive Reddy, who furnished the counter filed by the health secretary and sought more time to file one more report.
"The principal secretary should rectify the lapses, the bench said. State counsel sought time to file a fresh affidavit. All replies are five-year-old and do not reflect the current situation?" the CJ said.
