Neighbourhood clinics on crutches

Hyderabad's Urban Primary Health Centres is vital yet under-resourced clinics providing accessible healthcare to the city's underserved communities.

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.

Pressed against the left side of the intersection stands the Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) at Darulshifa. The structure bears the unmistakable marks of time: faded lime plaster peeling off the walls in several places, exposing the brickwork beneath. A narrow entrance sits at the centre, framed by two cylindrical pillars. Above the doorway rises a triangular pediment, an architectural detail often associated with public buildings from the Nizam era.

Bright signboards announcing ‘Urban Primary Health Centre’ and ‘UPHC Darulshifa’ hang across the facade. The signage also appears in Telugu and Urdu, reflecting the linguistic diversity of the neighbourhood it serves.

On a sunny Monday morning, patients continue to walk in and out of the facility as part of their routine visits. Among them is Asma Fatima, who walks towards her husband waiting near the entrance, carrying a prescription and a small packet of medicines.

“I am 15 weeks pregnant and have come here for my antenatal check-up. We live nearby and have been visiting this centre for check-ups since the start of my pregnancy. The doctors and staff here are friendly. Usually people attach a stereotype to government facilities, but once you come here, you realise the facilities are actually good,” she says.