The general hospital here was established decades before the government's first medical college in Thiruvananthapuram. The current condition of this general hospital, which once held a significant name and reputation, is distressing not only to the countless patients who visit daily but also to anyone who sees it.

The buildings show signs of age and are at risk of collapsing at any moment. When it rains both the wards and the patients' beds get wet. This once-renowned general hospital now lacks proper facilities making it a nightmare for patients and the staff including the doctors. Unfortunately, the health minister and the responsible officials seem to be turning a blind eye to this deplorable state, even though it's visible from the administrative centre.

Numerous renovation plans for the General Hospital have been proposed but most of them have not materialized. Occasionally, there are announcements about renovations when the media reports on the hospital's disrepair but they often fade into oblivion. This has been an ongoing issue for a long time.

The general hospital in the capital used to be a crucial reference centre for common patients when the medical college hospital became a referral institution. It was also renowned for being very useful to the general public offering excellent facilities to patients. Today, it lacks even basic wards suitable for sheltering patients from the rain. There seems to be no one listening to the plight of patients who fear for their lives in buildings that could collapse at any moment.

When considering the establishment of a second medical college in Thiruvananthapuram, the premises of the general hospital were considered. A few buildings were even constructed for the medical college, but they have been abandoned for three years now. The medical college never materialized and these buildings constructed for that purpose have become useless and fallen into disrepair. One might wonder why these buildings, meant for the medical college, can't be repurposed when the century-old general hospital buildings are crumbling.

The answer lies in the strong knot of bureaucratic red tape. Those with financial means can seek treatment in the numerous private hospitals in the city but the medical college hospital is a place of trust for politicians and community members. For common people and the less privileged, the general hospital is the only refuge. Sadly, there appears to be no minister or cabinet member willing to address the loud protests from patients and their families regarding the hospital's limitations.

It would be beneficial for political leaders who often boast about the excellence of the healthcare sector to visit the General Hospital and witness its dire situation. They are likely to be eager to leave the place without wasting a moment feeling as if they've stepped into a hospital or even worse. While they await multi-crore plans to upgrade the secretariat, they seem to neglect the urgent need to fix the dilapidated condition of the general hospital buildings. Their stance appears to be that the current state of affairs is sufficient for the people.