The hospital was established in 2004 in memory of Padmashree Abid Ali Khan (1920–1992), founder of the Urdu daily The Siasat Daily, to provide affordable eye care.
In Memory of
He was a journalist, litterateur and social reformer in Hyderabad.
Literary contributions. He was the Founder-Secretary of the Progressive Writers Association and translated works including Karl Marx’s Wage Labour & Capital into Urdu.
Recognition. For his contributions to literature and education he was awarded the Padmashree in 1981 and the Ghalib Award in 1984.
Social vision. He founded The Siasat Daily in 1949. The paper took up community development and social justice; the hospital’s low-cost mission follows from that work.
Founding
It opened in 2004 in Darulshifa, in the Old City.
Leadership. It remains closely associated with the Siasat family.
Community focus. It was established as a private, pro-poor facility so that ophthalmic care was not restricted to the wealthy.
The hospital today
It has grown from a clinic into a surgical centre, with Johnson & Johnson machines and laboratory equipment for diagnostics.
Theatre. A new operation theatre was inaugurated in 2025, with anti-static flooring and hermetically sealed doors to minimise infection.
Mission. Cataract surgery, glaucoma management and contact lens services at nominal charges.
Community. It hosts community events through the year, including Iftaar gatherings.