Hyderabad: The Telangana government has sanctioned Rs.80 crore for restoration of Government Nizamia General Hospital and Nizamia Tibbi College, popularly known as Shifa Khana Unani.
A new building will be constructed in its premises and other works will also be undertaken.
Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha conveyed this to All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Akbaruddin Owaisi during a review meeting held recently.
Akbaruddin Owaisi also sought allotment of two-acre land behind Falaknuma Palace for construction of hostel for Unani College.
The restoration of Nizamia Tibbi College and the Nizamia Shifa Khana has been pending for a long time. The heritage buildings are under the monitoring of the state and central archaeological departments and hence there were various issues in taking up their restoration.
The AIMIM leader also demanded appointment of employees in Tibbi College and Hospital on part-time and contract basis. He said the health minister stated that students and patients were facing problems due to vacancies.
Akbaruddin Owaisi underlined the need for the protection of historic building of Nizamia Tibbi College near Charminar. He had been striving for its restoration for two decades. Few works were undertaken when Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy was the chief minister.
The previous government of BRS had sanctioned Rs.52 crore for restoration of the hospital and college but the Congress government increased the same to Rs.80 crore.
Female students of Nizamia Tibbi College are living in deplorable conditions at their hostel, which suffers from severe water seepage, poor drainage, and inadequate security. As many as 55 students are crammed into 22 rooms, a majority of which lie dilapidated with broken windows, persistent leakages, and a chronic shortage of water supply.
A new building for girls’ hostel has been in the planning stage for several years. The new facility is expected to accommodate up to 150 students once completed.
Students have also complained leaking roofs in classrooms and falling plaster from ceilings.
Shifa Khana Unani has a history that dates back to 1810 when it was started by an Afghan scholar, Sajida Begum Majid. Later, it was renovated and developed into a splendid structure in 1938 by the seventh Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan. However, despite it being a heritage structure, its preservation is being grossly neglected by the authorities.
The meeting called by the health minister focused on several key health initiatives in Hyderabad. Discussions included the establishment of a new wellness centre in the Old City, and the review and progress of constructing five new Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in various assembly constituencies. They also discussed the recruitment of doctors and supporting medical staff for numerous hospitals and Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs) throughout the city.
