A video showing doctors at Zaheerabad Area Hospital in Telangana treating patients using their mobile phone lights after a power outage has sparked outrage and led to the suspension of the hospital's superintendent. The incident, attributed to a failure to activate the backup generator in a timely manner, has raised serious questions about the state of public health infrastructure in the region.
The distressing video, which quickly went viral across social media platforms, depicts medical staff using the flashlights on their mobile phones to examine and treat patients in the emergency ward. The power outage caused significant disruption to critical patient care, particularly given that the hospital's backup generator was not brought online promptly.
In response to the incident and the ensuing public outcry, the Telangana health department suspended the hospital's in-charge superintendent, Dr. V. Sridhar Kumar, on grounds of gross negligence. An inquiry was conducted by the Sangareddy District Collector and the Telangana Vaidya Vidhana Parishad (TVVP) Commissioner. The investigation confirmed the presence of a generator, but revealed an unacceptable delay in its activation, leading to the dangerous breakdown in emergency services.
Former Health Minister and BRS Siddipet MLA T. Harish Rao strongly condemned the incident, criticizing the Congress-led state government. In a post on X, he highlighted the irony of power cuts combined with a non-functional generator, ultimately resulting in patients being treated under mobile phone light. He questioned the overall state of healthcare administration under Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's leadership, suggesting a collapse in basic medical care for the poor. He also noted that the Zaheerabad Area Hospital receives over 300 patients daily, raising concerns about the condition of rural hospitals across Telangana.
Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha has ordered a detailed investigation into the matter. The health department has issued strict instructions to all hospital superintendents across Telangana to ensure generators are functional and on standby at all times, warning of severe disciplinary action for any future dereliction of duty. Authorities emphasized that no patient should suffer due to administrative negligence.
The incident at Zaheerabad Area Hospital has ignited a broader debate about the state of public health infrastructure in Telangana. Concerns have been raised regarding the availability and maintenance of backup power systems in government hospitals, particularly in the face of frequent power outages. The government is now under pressure to address these systemic issues and ensure that all healthcare facilities have the resources and protocols in place to provide uninterrupted patient care. The Telangana Medical Services and Infrastructure Development Corporation (TMSIDC) has been directed to inspect all government hospitals in the state within a week to assess backup power systems.
