Special ward for homeless at Osmania General Hospital

A 20-bed special ward has been set up at Osmania General Hospital (OGH) exclusively for homeless patients in collaboration with Helping Hand Foundation (HHF), noted voluntary organisation involved in the field of healthcare in Hyderabad.

The 20-bed special ward was formally inaugurated by Superintendent, OGH, Dr B Nagender on Thursday in the presence of senior hospital doctors, RMOs and members of the Foundation.

Homeless individuals with health issues are usually admitted to Government hospitals as ‘unknown’ patients and quite often struggle to recover because of no support from relatives and lack of bed side assistance. In a novel gesture, the HHF has come forward to take care of such patients at OGH and provide them with bed side assistance



that includes cleaning them, providing clothing and feeding, while doctors and nurses of OGH extend them with treatment and other medical services.

Before a dedicated ward, unknown patients in government hospitals are usually treated in different wards that are scattered across the hospital. Due to lack of family support, such patients do not have attenders to take care of their non-medical needs while they undergo treatment. Now such patients and the ones abandoned on the streets and brought to OGH in critical condition will be treated in the special ward, senior health officials and HHF said.

After getting full recovered, the homeless patients will be sent to rehabilitation homes or ashrams in Hyderabad.