Neighbourhood clinics on crutches

The Urban Primary Health Centre, Darulshifa building in old city of Hyderabad on March 12, 2026, whose ageing structure still houses several primary healthcare services for residents of the surrounding neighbourhoods. | Photo Credit: Nagara Gopal

At the busy Purani Haveli X Road in Hyderabad’s Old City, it doesn’t take much to bring traffic to a halt. A poorly parked two-wheeler, a hesitant driver or a bus inching through the junction can trigger a snarl of autorickshaws, motorcycles and honking cars within seconds. The chaos rarely lasts long, but in those moments the entire stretch grinds to a standstill.

Almost lost in this swirl of horns and hurried commuters stands an ageing building that thousands depend on for basic healthcare needs. In a city increasingly known for its towering corporate hospitals and medical tourism , this modest structure represents a quieter but far more routine side of Hyderabad’s healthcare system.

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