Protesters Demand Action on Bed Shortages, Sanitation Lapses and Corruption at Niloufer Hospital

Protesters handed a 12‑point memorandum to Niloufer Hospital superintendent Dr. Vijay Kumar, urging immediate steps to fix bed shortages, poor sanitation and suspected corruption. The protest was organised by the Progressive Youth League (PYL) and the Progressive Organisation of Women (POW) after a three‑day survey of the government‑run hospital from Oct 27 to Oct 29. Surveyors found pregnant women waiting for hours on chairs because of insufficient beds, and reports of two to three patients sharing a single bed. Two of the three floors of the waiting area were locked, leaving attendants with cramped space and no proper rest areas. Toilets in both the old and new blocks were described as filthy, with overflowing sewage and foul smells, while drinking‑water points were missing. PYL and POW members claimed some staff asked patients for cash and sent them to private labs for tests that should be available in‑house, raising out‑of‑pocket costs. They also said the AMRIT medical outlet was charging higher prices despite promises of discounts, and that free medicines and injections were being siphoned to private pharmacies. Allegations of irregular hiring of outsourced staff and financial misuse were also listed. Speakers D. Swarupa (POW state president), B.S. Krishna (PYL Greater Hyderabad president) and Kolluru Bimesh (secretary) demanded better parking, improved ₹5 meals with clear signage, and filling all vacant posts. ## Context These complaints reflect broader challenges faced by many public hospitals in India, where overcrowding, inadequate facilities and occasional corruption undermine affordable healthcare.