Parents of newborn carry oxygen cylinders: Govt hospitals in Telangana struggle with neglect

Government hospitals in Warangal and Kothagudem are facing severe neglect, with patients forced to manage critical care tasks themselves. From carrying oxygen cylinders to enduring unhygienic conditions and non-functional facilities, the situation has sparked public outrage. Despite prior warnings from district authorities, little has improved on the ground.

Warangal/Kothagudem: The deteriorating condition of government hospitals is causing distress to patients, with the situation worsening steadily over the past two years.

At the MGM Hospital in Warangal on Saturday, parents of a newborn were forced to carry an oxygen cylinder themselves instead of being assisted by hospital staff. Patients and their families said the absence of supervision by senior officials has led to neglect, resulting in denial of even basic medical support. The MGM Hospital, considered a lifeline for patients in north Telangana, has reportedly been left in disarray.

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Speaking to the media, the infant’s father, Sompalli Murali of Mutharam in Kothaguda mandal, said doctors had advised tests for his child. The compounder, who connected the baby, along with another newborn baby with nasal cannulas to an oxygen cylinder, asked parents of both babies to proceed to the diagnostic centre and assured them that he would follow.

However, as they moved towards the centre carrying the oxygen cylinder, the pipe connected to the second child’s nasal cannula became detached, forcing Murali to fix it himself. The incident, witnessed by several bystanders, triggered anger over the hospital staff’s negligence.

In Kothagudem, the Government Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Centre at Ramavaram is facing similar issues. The premises lack proper sanitation and maintenance, with wild bushes and garbage strewn around the hospital, making the environment unhygienic. The children’s play area has been left neglected, while patients complained of inadequate drinking water facilities.

Toilets are reportedly unusable and in an abandoned state, while non-functioning streetlights on the approach road from the main road to the hospital are causing inconvenience to patients and their attendants, especially at night.

It may be recalled that District Collector Jitesh V Patil had earlier pulled up the hospital superintendent and staff during his inspection in December 2024. Show-cause notices were issued to those directing patients to buy medicines from outside, but the situation remains virtually unchanged even today.