Protest at Hyderabad's Niloufer Hospital over bed shortages and sanitation issues
The Progressive Youth League and Progressive Organisation of Women demanded an inquiry into alleged medical irregularities and poor infrastructure.
The Progressive Youth League (PYL) and the Progressive Organisation of Women (POW) staged a protest at Niloufer Hospital in Hyderabad to highlight several infrastructure and service issues. According to The Hindu, the organisations submitted a memorandum to Niloufer Hospital Superintendent Dr. Vijay Kumar following a three-day survey conducted between October 27 and 29.
The survey identified a shortage of beds, noting that pregnant women were forced to wait on chairs for long periods and that multiple patients were sometimes sharing a single bed. Protesters also claimed that two floors of a three-storey waiting area were kept locked, leaving attendants with insufficient space to rest.
Sanitation concerns were also raised, with allegations that toilets in the old and new blocks were poorly maintained and overflowing. The organisations further alleged that drinking water facilities were inadequate and that poor hygiene posed a risk of infection.
The memorandum included allegations of financial and medical irregularities. PYL and POW leaders claimed some staff members were asking patients for money and that patients were being sent to private laboratories for tests that should be available at the hospital.
The protesters also questioned the AMRIT medical outlet regarding medicine pricing and availability. They alleged that some prescribed drugs were not provided and called for an investigation into whether free medicines were being diverted to private shops.
Additional demands included an inquiry into the recruitment of outsourced staff and the use of funds. The organisations also called for better parking, improved meal quality under the ₹5 scheme, and the filling of vacant hospital posts.