OGH struggles to meet water needs

OGH struggles to meet water needs TIMES NEWS NETWORK  Hyderabad: Osmania General Hospital, the biggest state-run institute, is receiving just 10% of its daily requirement of around 3 lakh litres of water and is struggling to meet its water needs, officials said.     Patients and doctors have been hugely inconvenienced as sterilization of instruments, cleaning of operation theatres is being compromised, exposing patients to more infection, doctors said. Also, water shortage also increases the use of disposables, thereby increasing the hospital expenditure.     “Though we pay Rs 2 crore annual bill to the Water Board, the supply is pathetic,” said a senior doctor at the state-run hospital. “Water and power are the basic requirements in a hospital set up, but their availability is always found wanting,” he added.     Authorities said because of the persistent water shortage, a second connection was taken,whichcostthehospital Rs 4-5 lakh, but in vain.     Sources said that casualty wardwears a dirty lookdueto water scarcity. For surgeons, to wash hands before and after surgery, water has been keptin drums,whichincreases the scope of infection as they areusing stagnantwater instead of running water.     There is a severe water scarcity even in the mess and washrooms will be out of water most of the times.     “For a 9 lakh square feet facility with 1,400 beds and multi-specialty services, this situation is awful. State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has directed the Water Board officials thrice to ensure adequatesupply tothe hospital but each time promises are madebut never kept,” said another senior doctor, adding that routine work is getting affected due to the scarcity of water.