Weeks of delay at Telangana's sole govt dental hospital

HYDERABAD: Patients at the Govt Dental College and Hospital (GDCH) in Afzalgunj have voiced frustration over prolonged treatment delays, often stretching for weeks or even months.

As early as 7.30 am, long queues form inside the hospital premises, which serves as Telangana's only state-run dental medical institution.

P Anjaneyulu, a patient from Ameerpet, said, "I've been coming here for over a month, and only one session was completed. Even a simple X-ray takes more than an hour. Today there were fewer patients, yet the pace remained the same. Moreover, there's no proper drinking water facility at the hospital."

R. Venkatesh, who travelled from Nalgonda early Tuesday morning with severe tooth pain, said, "The pain started Monday evening and worsened overnight. I understand treatments take time, but I requested urgent attention. Instead, the staff advised me to visit a private clinic for immediate tests and care - which I can't afford. I came here because I've heard the doctors are good."

The hospital's outpatient department (OPD) handles 1,000-1,200 patients daily. In the first three months of 2025 alone, 30,200 patients sought treatment-19,203 of them first-time visitors.

However, staffing is a major issue. The hospital has only 300-350 doctors, most of whom are undergraduate and postgraduate students working as junior doctors. Just around 50 senior doctors-cum-professors are present.

Several junior doctors cited both infrastructural and logistical challenges behind the delays. "There's a shortage of basic instruments, and some of us use our own. Dental chairs often face technical issues. Even power outages occur during OPD hours, and there's no reliable generator backup."

They added that the doctor-patient ratio is skewed. "Each department has about 30-35 doctors, but only around 20 are available on a given day to handle the heavy inflow."

A staff member from the administration acknowledged vacant posts. "Once these are filled and senior residents begin training, things should improve."

A senior official said the overcrowding has been reported to the state govt. "Treatments are usually on time unless surgical cases arise. Some procedures require multiple sessions. School vacations have also increased child patient visits. Still, doctors are working hard. We have 340 dental chairs, most in good condition, and no shortage of instruments." Both staff and patients believe that the burden on govt dental college and hospital could ease if the state establishes additional, even smaller, govt dental facilities elsewhere.



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