Absence of doctor ails dawakhana, patients return sans treatment

HYDERABAD: Patients visiting Basti Dawakhana at Taleem Amlapur, Karwan, are upset due to the absence of doctors for the last several days. Locals complained that patients do not find doctors in the Basti Dawakhana, forcing patients to visit private clinics or hospitals.
The Basti Dawakhanas were opened amid much fanfare but the absence of doctors has become a bane for the locals.With only one nurse to see patients and distribute medicines at the clinic, locals alleged that the matter was brought to the notice of senior officials but no efforts have been made to appoint doctors.
“We have enough medicines here. We are giving medicines to patients with complaints of fever, cough and cold. But there is no doctor to treat patients,” said the nurse.
Congress leader Osman bin Mohammed Al-Hajri told TOI that many complaints were made to senior officials but the issue has not been resolved. He urged the state government to appoint a doctor immediately. He said that in the absence of a doctor, locals are forced to visit private clinics and cough up more money.
One of the patients, Anwar, said that whenever he visits the clinic, he finds only one nurse to prescribe the medicines. “I have never seen a doctor in the dawakhana,” he said.
When contacted, Dr Rukma Reddy, programme officer for Basthi Dawakhanas, said the doctor posted at Gunge ki Bowli Basti Dawakhana was shifted to Hakimpet Basti Dawakhana. He said that a doctor would be posted at the Karwan clinic soon.