Multilingual handbook launched to ease medical journey of patients coming to Hyderabad

Milaap launches handbook to eases healthcare access in Hyderabad for patients from West Bengal and northeastern states.

The Asian Institute of Gastroenterology (AIG) in Hyderabad’s Somajiguda attracts a large number of patients from West Bengal and neighbouring northeastern states. For these patients, navigating Hyderabad’s healthcare ecosystem often presents challenges. Language barriers, securing accommodation for extended treatment periods, arranging food and managing other logistical needs frequently add to the stress of medical care.

The scenario also exists in government institutions such as Osmania General Hospital and Gandhi Hospital, which serve patients from various districts within Telangana as well as from neighbouring states such as Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

To address these concerns, Milaap, a crowdfunding platform, has launched a caretaker’s handbook titled Making Healthcare Accessible in Hyderabad.

The handbook, launched by Divya Devarajan, CEO of Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) and Prajavani State Nodal Officer, aims to guide patients and their families in navigating Hyderabad’s medical infrastructure.

“As part of Prajavani, we handle numerous medical cases requiring immediate attention. While we facilitate treatments under schemes such as Aarogyasri and the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, there are instances where certain conditions fall outside the scope of these programmes. Milaap introduced us to the challenges faced by patients unfamiliar with Hyderabad’s healthcare ecosystem, prompting the creation of this handbook,” said Divya.

The handbook serves as a comprehensive resource, listing tertiary care hospitals, both government and private, accommodation options, availability of medicines, medical equipment, ambulance services, expert consultations, counselling and palliative care services. Additionally, it provides information on blood banks and government healthcare schemes in Telangana, detailing eligibility criteria for treatments.

Available in multiple languages, including English, Telugu, Hindi and Bengali, the handbook will be distributed through hospitals, NGOs and support networks across Hyderabad. Milaap founder Anoj Viswanathan announced plans to launch an accompanying app, ensuring these services are accessible via mobile devices.