Land for hospital allotted in 1947, but built in 2006

Nawab Sir Nizamat Jung Bahadur, poet, judge and philanthropist, had donated 3,050 sq. yards attached to the Madina Mansion, Narayanguda, for the Shifakhana Unani (Unani hospital) in 1947. When the hospital was not constructed, the donor requested the government to revert the property to him. In 1951, the government gave possession of the land to the medical department.

In spite of a lapse of six decades, the construction of the Unani hospital was not started till 2006.

The Chief Commissioner, Land Administration, Hyderabad, allotted 1,975 sq. metres of land to the BC Welfare Commission for a study centre and 300 sq. metres to weaker sections who had encroached on the land and 425 sq. metres to the municipal corporation to build the Unani hospital. After a long legal battle, the government allotted the land originally donated for the Unani hospital to the department of health along with the constructed structure in 2006 (GO MS No. 31 February 7, 2006).

The Ayush department accorded administrative sanction for construction of a 120-bed Unani hospital. Though the construction was complete, the Ayush department showed no interest in starting the hospital. The building has been converted into a dumping yard for expired medicines.

Besides, staff shortage at the college and hospital is a matter of concern. Dr Mohammed Saleem, associate professor and general secretary, Telangana Unani Medical Officers’ Association, said, “Our association has been submitting memorandums to the government for appointments to vacant posts since 2-3 years but no action has been taken.”

He said the government had given sanction for the construction of a new building within the premises with an estimated cost of `2.3 crore. The outpatient block and hostel will be shifted to the building when construction is complete, he said.

Dr Saleem complained about dilatory tactics in transferring the constructed building in Narayanguda to the Unani hospital. He said that the Quli Qutb Shah Urban (QQSUDA) Development Authority had built 47 shops in 1980 on the land belonging to the hospital, and, in return, constructed a block. The QQSUDA is even today collecting the rent from the shopkeepers. “If these shops are returned to us, we can utilise the revenue to improve basic facilities at the hospital and college,” Dr Saleem said.