Secunderabad to get 7 new basti dawakhanas

SECUNDERABAD: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has planned to set up seven more ‘basti dawakhanas’ in Secunderabad to improve medical services provided to the poor. The dawakhanas will be opened in a few months in coordination with the district medical and health office (DMHO).
Currently, there are two dawakhanas, one each at Tarnaka (Ravindra Nagar) and Mettuguda (Dr Ambedkar Nagar).A third one at Seetaphalmandi (Chintabavi) is ready for inauguration.

“We have already sent proposals to set up ‘basthi dawakhanas’ in seven places, including two in Addagutta, one each at Tarnaka and Seetaphalmandi, two at Boudha Nagar and one at Mettuguda. Buildings to set up the new basti dawakhanas have also been identified,” GHMC (north zone) deputy commissioner Ravi Kumar told TOI.
He added that 200 diagnostic tests and over 135 type of medicines are provided to the patients free of cost at the dawakhanas. “All diagnostic reports are given to the patients after 48 hours and doctors only prescribe medicines that are available at the facilities, Kumar said.
With at least 150 people availing treatments at a basti dawakhana regularly, a GHMC official said that the civic body is now planning to have one basti dawakhana in each division of the twin cities.
On concerns raised regarding the availability of doctors and medical staff, Kumar said that there are adequate number of para-medical staff and doctors to provide medical services to the people through these dawakhanas.