Telangana Government Moves to Evict Private Medical Shops from Hospital Premises
In a significant development for healthcare policy in Telangana, Health Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha has declared that private medical shops operating within government hospital premises are set to be removed. This announcement came during a session in the legislative council, where the minister outlined the state's efforts to streamline pharmacy operations and enhance affordability for patients.
Current Status and Legal Hurdles
According to the minister, out of 65 medical shops located within government hospitals across Telangana, six are privately owned. These include three at Gandhi Hospital, two at Osmania General Hospital, and one at the government maternity hospital in Sultan Bazar. However, the eviction process has faced delays due to ongoing legal challenges, with some shops obtaining stay orders from courts despite the expiry of their lease periods.
Minister Rajanarasimha emphasized, "Since coming to power, we have not granted permission to any new private shops and are trying to remove existing ones. Some shops are still operating after obtaining stay orders from the court, but they will also be removed once permission is received." He noted that court cases for four of these shops have concluded, with eviction orders issued and the vacating process underway. However, two shops in Gandhi Hospital continue to operate under court stays.
Strict Measures and Future Plans
The minister warned that strict action would be taken if any irregularities were found in the pricing or quality of medicines sold at pharmacies within government hospital premises. To address healthcare affordability, the state government is actively promoting generic pharmacy stores in these hospitals. A new policy is being prepared, and fresh tenders will be invited once the eviction process is complete, aiming to make essential medicines more accessible to the public.
This move aligns with broader efforts to improve governance and public health infrastructure in Telangana, ensuring that government hospital spaces are utilized optimally for patient benefit.
