AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi demands neonatal unit in Old City

The Majlis on Tuesday demanded the establishment of a modern neonatal unit in the Old City on the lines of the one opened at Gandhi Hospital. “Space is available at the Government Maternity Hospital, Petlaburj, which can be used for building a neonatal unit. The matter will be represented to the Health Minister”, said Majlis president Asaduddin Owaisi.

Owaisi, who released the Family Health Survey report prepared by the Helping Hand Foundation, a city-based NGO here on Tuesday, also sought the opening of generic drug stores in his constituency so that people can substantially save on the cost of medicines. Owaisi has already sent a proposal to the Centre in this regard.

Expressing concern at the health scenario, Owaisi said that the government needs to spend at least 2 per cent of the GDP on health. “The National Family Health Survey report of 2015-16 shows that only a negligible amount was spent on health. India should compete with its peers like China in healthcare sector,”



the Majlis leader said.

Expressing anguish at the challenges posed by maternal and child healthcare, Owaisi said that nearly 46 per cent of pregnant women are underweight and the babies born are also underweight or stunted. In this connection, he cited the Princeton University report to underline the health status of women.

The Hyderabad MP called for strengthening the urban health posts and improve primary healthcare facilities there. He said he would use his MPLADS funds and pressurise the government to do its bit. “A health camp at Sultan Shahi would soon be held as the area is said to be home to a large number of TB patients,” Owaisi said.

He assured the HHF founder, Mujtaba Hasan Askari, that he would take up the survey report seriously and try to do his bit to improve the health scenario in Old City. He also offered to take care of a few critical cases identified by the HHF at Asra Hospital or Owaisi Hospital run by his party.