Cops turn away serious patients

HYDERABAD: For hundreds of sick people, Osmania General Hospital remained out of bounds, as gun-toting policemen threw a tight security ring, closed gates and forced ambulances carrying serious patients wait outside the main gate for paramedics to pick them up later.

Relatives of a 50-year-old patient from Mahbubnagar who died at the hospital put the blame on authorities, saying she was not admitted in the emergency ward, where the fasting YSR Congress chief Jaganmohan Reddy is put up.

"It took me 45 minutes to gain entry into the hospital today. There was heavy traffic outside and police blocked all routes. Out-patient counters were also closed," lamented Vijayamma, a patient.

Hundreds of patients visiting the state-run hospital on Friday were at the receiving end as a huge posse of police and paramilitary force turned away sick patientsin the name of bandobust. After Jagan's admission late on Thursday night, the hospital was turned into a fortress and even the road leading to the emergency wing was barricaded and shops and eateries located adjacent to the hospital shut.

Metal detectors were installed to screen people near the emergency wing even as patients and the hospital staff struggled to convince the police for entry.

"Please let me in. I have to see my son who is admitted in the emergency wing," cried Basith Khan from Katedan. He eventually gave up hopes of seeing his son and left dejected.

Several entry points to the hospital as well as inside the hospital were blocked, forcing patients and staffers to take long routes. "Because of one person, hundreds of others have to suffer. Already the treatment and facilities at the hospital are poor and to add to this, we have new problems," rued Khan.

The Acute Medical Care ( AMC) unit where Jagan has been allotted a special room was completely out of reach, for even many of the hospital staff.

Police used batons to chase away a few YSRCP supporters, who wanted to catch a glimpse of their ailing leader.

The out patients and admissions were considerably less due to the numerous restrictions, hospital staff said."It's a nuisance, even we found it difficult to enter the hospital," said a hospital doctor.

Earlier, there was traffic chaos on the Nayapul stretch for a few hours. Office goers and patients had a tough time wading through the traffic to reach their destinations. Many who reached the hospital were dismayed to find gates closed and waited in long queues to get inside.