Hyderabad: The Employee Health Centre in Khairatabad, which sees around 300 patients a day, is struggling with a severe shortage of doctors and other health staff, affecting the quality of care for those dependent on the facility. “There have been no recruitments for a long time,” said a specialist at the centre. Though most patients are locals, others come from Rangareddy, Warangal, Karimnagar and Nalgonda districts.
Functioning as a primary care centre, it offers medicines and injections, mainly to elderly patients and those with non-communicable diseases like diabetes and hypertension. “Only beneficiaries under the Employees Health Scheme (EHS) and Journalists Health Scheme and others can access these services,” the specialist explained.
The centre urgently requires general physicians and interns to handle the rising patient load. “Managing so many patients with just three specialists is extremely difficult. Earlier, retired doctors were permitted to serve, but they have since been relieved, and no direct recruitments have been made. This is severely affecting service delivery,” another doctor stated.
Established in 2023 by the erstwhile BRS government, these wellness centres are managed by the Arogyasri Trust. There are 11 such centres across the state, with four in Hyderabad at Khairtabad, Vanasthalipuram, Kukatpally and Barkas.
At Khairatabad, only one general physician on deputation from Khammam and another from Barkas are currently attending to patients. “I’ve been here for three months. The patient volume is overwhelming for one doctor. On some days, the footfall exceeds 400,” said Dr Saritha, a general physician.
In addition to outpatient services, the centres offer basic medicines and limited specialist consultations. “Many patients are follow-ups from NIMS. Others come for common ailments like fever, joint pain or cold. We don’t even have an X-ray facility,” Dr Saritha added.
Mohammad Hamid, 55, a resident seeking treatment for diabetes and knee pain, said, “I’ve been coming here for two years. It takes four hours to see the doctor for just five minutes, but I prefer this place since it’s nearby. Only EHS cards are accepted. I once tried a private hospital under Arogyasri, but they turned me away, citing pending dues from the government.”
Another patient, Vijaylaxmi from Ameerpet, who has been visiting the centre since 2017 for hypertension medicines, added, “Kukatpally has had shortages for the past month. This centre is more dependable.” While patients continue to receive essential care, the overburdened staff at the Khairtabad centre is finding it increasingly difficult to cope with the rising demand.
