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Zaheerabad’s Healthcare Crisis: Calls Grow for Multi-Specialty District Hospital
Zaheerabad, Sangareddy District, 13 February 2025 special correspondent – A growing demand to upgrade Zaheerabad’s Area Hospital into a multi-speciality district hospital has gained momentum, with medical professionals, activists, and political leaders calling for urgent government intervention.
A formal request has been submitted to the Telangana Health Minister, Chief Minister, Union Health Minister, National Health Authority, Director of Public Health, and Telangana Vaidhya Vidhana Parishad, urging immediate action.
Overwhelmed and Under-Resourced Hospital
Demands for Zaheerabad ‘Area Hospital’ to a Multi-Specialty ‘District Hospital’
Zaheerabad Area Hospital, which has served the community for 70 years, is struggling under immense pressure. According to OPD records, the hospital receives between 1,200 and 1,500 outpatients daily, and over 350 surgeries are conducted each month, far exceeding its limited infrastructure and resources.
Dr. J. Ajay Kumar, Commissioner of Telangana Vaidhya Vidhana Parishad (TVVP), has acknowledged the issue and backed the demand to upgrade the hospital. Similarly, Dr. Sheshu, another senior medical professional, has supported the call, stating that the current infrastructure is insufficient to meet the growing healthcare needs.
Despite being the primary medical facility for Zaheerabad’s industrial and residential population, the hospital has only 50 baby beds, lacks ICU and ventilator facilities, and does not have a dialysis unit, forcing kidney patients to travel to Hyderabad for treatment.
In emergency cases, ventilator-equipped ambulances are not available, resulting in patients dying en route to higher medical centres. Additionally, a severe shortage of specialist doctors, including cardiologists, nephrologists, and neurologists, has exacerbated the crisis, leaving patients with no choice but to seek treatment elsewhere.
Legal and Public Health Obligations
Telangana Freedom Fighter Dr. Jan Nisar Moin emphasized that the government has a constitutional obligation to provide quality healthcare under Article 21, which guarantees the right to life and health.
He further highlighted that Article 38 requires the government to promote the principles of a welfare state, prioritising public health. Article 39(e) mandates the protection of labourers and industrial workers’ health, which is particularly relevant given Zaheerabad’s industrial expansion.
Article 41 places the responsibility on the government to provide medical support for citizens in case of illness and disability.
Article 47 states that the government has a fundamental duty to improve public health and raise living standards.
Proposed Features of the Multispecialty Hospital.
Demands for Zaheerabad ‘Area Hospital’ to a Multi-Specialty ‘District Hospital’
Campaigners have outlined the requirements for the upgraded district hospital, which include:
>> 300-bed facility with expanded wards, ICU units, and NICU support
>> Specialist doctors in cardiology, neurology, orthopaedics, paediatrics, and oncology
>> 40 additional dialysis machines to support kidney patients
>> Advanced diagnostic equipment, including MRI, CT scan, ultrasound, and X-ray
>> A trauma centre for emergency response
>> A fully equipped blood bank and 24/7 pharmacy
>> Modern ambulance services, including ventilator-equipped vehicles
>> Integration of digital technology, such as electronic health records and online consultations*
Political and Public Support.
The movement has gained widespread political and social backing. Local leaders, including Muhammad Ghouse Nizami (senior journalist), Ayub (Congress Party in-charge), Ayub Khan (TKS), Syed Ahmed (activist), and Mohammad Mahmood (ex-ward member), along with other social activists and concerned citizens, have come forward to demand immediate action from the government.
They argue that Zaheerabad’s growing population and industrial activity necessitate urgent improvements in healthcare. If immediate attention is not given, thousands of lives will be endangered, they warn.
A Call for Government Action
Demands for Zaheerabad ‘Area Hospital’ to a Multi-Specialty ‘District Hospital’
Activists and medical professionals stress that upgrading Zaheerabad’s hospital is not just a demand but a moral and legal responsibility. “The Telangana government cannot afford to delay action. This is not merely an infrastructure issue—it is a matter of life and death for thousands of people,” – said journalist Muhammad Ghouse Nizami.
As the healthcare crisis worsens daily, the people of Zaheerabad wait for a decisive response from the government. For them, the hospital’s upgrade is not just about better healthcare but about survival.
The Telangana government has yet to issue an official response, but with growing pressure from citizens and public figures, action is expected soon.
