Pregnant women in corridors, waiting areas should not be construed as overcrowding: Niloufer superintendent - The HinduPublished - November 05, 2026 06:53 pm IST - HYDERABADResponding to the news report published in The Hindu on allegations of overcrowding and poor sanitation at the government-run Niloufer Hospital in Hyderabad, the hospital superintendent said the institution functions as a tertiary care referral centre catering to high-risk pregnancies. The presence of pregnant women in corridors and waiting areas, therefore, should not be construed as overcrowding, the superintendent said.He said that women in the early stages of labour, who may take eight to 12 hours to deliver, are advised by the duty medical team to walk in the verandah while being monitored round the clock. This could give visitors the impression that the hospital was overcrowded.He added that the hospital houses a High Dependency Unit (HDU), Maternal Intensive Care Unit (MICU) and labour room on the same floor. Besides women visiting for routine antenatal check-ups, several pregnant women in critical condition are referred to the hospital for specialised obstetric and gynaecological care, including treatment for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and severe anaemia.Published - November 05, 2026 06:53 pm ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }