Hyderabad: Health Minister Damodar Rajanarsimha has directed officials to immediately open the long-unused dharmashala building at Niloufer Hospital in Hyderabad for the benefit of patient attendants. The building, constructed over a decade ago by GHMC for this purpose, had remained locked and unutilised for ten years.
During a review meeting at the hospital on Friday, the minister expressed anger over the prolonged neglect. He questioned health and hospital authorities for leaving a large three-storey building with 72 rooms unused while poor families were forced to wait on roadsides and under trees.
Niloufer dharmashala for patient attendants left unused for a decade
Rajanarsimha, who has been conducting a series of reviews on service quality across the ten teaching hospitals under Osmania Medical College, pulled up officials over the lack of basic support for those accompanying patients. He stressed that attendants arriving from rural and distant areas must be accommodated with dignity.
The minister specifically asked why the dharmashala had not been allocated despite being ready for years. He blamed poor coordination and negligence between departments for the delay. He instructed officials to allocate the building without further delay and ensure that attendants are no longer forced to stay outside the hospital.
Top health officials reach consensus after minister’s directive
Following the minister’s orders, Principal Secretary (Health) Christina Z Chongthu chaired a meeting of the Niloufer Hospital Development Society. The meeting was attended by Ranga Reddy District Collector Narayana Reddy, Telangana Medical Infrastructure Corporation MD Phanindra Reddy, DME A. Narendra Kumar, GHMC Zonal Commissioner Anurag Jayanti, and hospital superintendent Dr. Vijay Kumar.
The committee approved the use of the dharmashala building for patient attendants. The building, previously under GHMC’s control, will now be brought into hospital use. Officials said this move will provide decent temporary accommodation to attendants of child patients visiting Niloufer.
The minister’s surprise inspection and firm intervention led to what many see as a humane and long-overdue decision. Officials acknowledged that the Niloufer incident shows how prompt action from elected representatives can directly benefit the public.
•మానవత్వం చాటిన మంత్రి దామోదర్ రాజనర్సింహా.
•దశాబ్ద కాలంగా నిరుపయోగంగా ఉన్న రోగుల సహాయకుల (ధర్మశాల) కేంద్రం.
•అధికారుల నిర్లక్ష్యం పై అగ్రహం వ్యక్తం చేసిన మంత్రి,
•అసుపత్రి కి వచ్చే రోగుల సహాయకుల ధీన పరిస్థితి పై చలించిన మంత్రి,
•మంత్రి చోరవ తో కదిలిన అధికార యంత్రాంగం,… pic.twitter.com/e8hTEaWBMI— Damodar Raja Narasimha (@DamodarCilarapu) September 26, 2025
