How strong is OGH building, Telangana HC asks government

HYDERABAD: Wondering why authorities were leaving the old heritage building housing Osmania General Hospital (OGH) in a dilapidated condition, Telangana HC, on Wednesday, directed the state government to furnish a report by August 26 on the structural strength of the building and plans to build a new hospital complex near OGH campus.
The bench of Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan and Justice Shameem Akther was hearing a public interest plea filed by Dr K Mahesh Kumar of M/s Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association. Kumar was urging the court to direct the state to complete the adjacent building fast and shift the hospital there.
The bench verified the contents in the counter filed by K Ramesh Reddy from the state health wing and was not satisfied with the details given in it.
“This is a vague affidavit,” the bench said, and sought to know from the state counsel whether this health wing officer would admit his kin to this hospital. Petitioner has in fact said in his plea that the building has become unsafe with huge patches from ceiling falling frequently and injuring patients and staff.
Their lives are in danger, the petitioner said. State counsel A Sanjeev Kumar sought some time to file an additional affidavit. “Since the building was a heritage structure, it is the duty of the officials to repair and maintain it,” the bench said, while posting the case to four weeks.