Neighbourhood clinics on crutches

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.