Rayachoti area hospital faces severe crisis in Annamayya dt

Despite being the headquarters of Annamayya district, the 100-bed area hospital in Rayachoti is reportedly failing to provide adequate emergency medical services. Patients are complaining of improper treatment and are often being referred to other hospitals for critical care. The situation is worsened by the alleged lack of punctuality among doctors, many of whom are said to prioritize their private practices.

The hospital sees a significant number of patients, with 800 to 900 Outpatient (OP) visits daily. However, patients allege that they are not receiving proper care. Many doctors reportedly spend most of their time in private clinics, and some general practitioners at the hospital limit their work to surgeries, neglecting the OP. The lack of full-time specialists in departments like women’s and men’s surgery also forces many patients to seek treatment at private hospitals.

The hospital serves not just Rayachoti but also surrounding areas like Veeraballi, Sundupally, and Pulivendula. Despite rules requiring doctors to reside in the area they work, some doctors commute from Kadapa and Peeleru, contributing to their tardiness. The hospital is also understaffed, with two vacancies for general medicine and orthopedic doctors out of a sanctioned 23 posts.

The absence of a resident orthopedic doctor has particularly dire consequences for accident victims, who are forced to travel to distant cities like Tirupati, Vellore, and Bengaluru for treatment. A recent incident involving a police constable who met with a road accident highlighted this critical issue, as he had to be transported to Bengaluru due to the lack of an available doctor.

In addition to staff and service issues, the hospital's infrastructure is also in a state of disrepair. The boundary wall has collapsed, allowing stray animals and unauthorized individuals to enter the premises, compromising the safety of patients and staff. There is also a severe water shortage.

The previous administration's ₹23 crore construction of the hospital did not include a critical care unit, a crucial component for emergency cases. However, in a positive development, Minister Mandipalli Ramprasadoddi has brought the issue to the government's attention, and a 50-bed critical care unit has been sanctioned and is currently under construction at a cost of ₹23.75 crores. This new unit is expected to provide essential emergency services, particularly for road accident victims, once completed.