Telangana junior doctors seek statewide safety audit of government hospitals

The Telangana Junior Doctors Association (TJUDA) has asked the State government to order a safety and infrastructure audit of all government healthcare institutions, citing a string of recent incidents at public hospitals.

The association pointed to a fire at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Adilabad, in which five infants died, and a ceiling collapse at MGM Hospital, Warangal, that left three patients injured. In a statement issued on Wednesday, TJUDA said these episodes had exposed persistent gaps in infrastructure, maintenance, safety systems, funding, transport and patient-care facilities across government hospitals, and should prompt preventive and corrective action.

The proposed audit would cover government medical colleges and teaching hospitals, district and area hospitals, community and primary health centres, as well as SNCUs, NICUs, PICUs and ICUs, emergency departments, operation theatres, blood banks and diagnostic facilities.

TJUDA said the review should assess structural safety, electrical and fire-safety systems, medical-gas supply, generators, lifts, HVAC systems, water and sanitation, emergency exits and medical equipment. Deficiencies identified as critical should be classified by risk and fixed within a set timeframe.

The association also flagged long-pending infrastructure and maintenance needs at MGM Hospital and asked the government to speed up the Warangal Super Specialty Hospital, seeking visible movement towards making it operational within a month.

Separately, TJUDA sought improved hostel facilities for postgraduate residents, undergraduate medical students, nursing students and other trainees. For doctors and other health workers posted in remote areas, it called for safe residential quarters, security arrangements, lighting and CCTV surveillance.

The body also drew attention to the shortage of dedicated vehicles at primary and community health centres, government medical colleges and peripheral institutions. It said the shortfall hampers field visits, disease surveillance, immunisation, maternal and child health programmes, emergency referrals, sample transport, health camps and disaster response.