In a hopeful turn for transgender healthcare in India, the long-shuttered Mitr Clinic in Hyderabad, once the nation’s first comprehensive healthcare center dedicated to the trans community, has reopened under a new name and renewed mission: the Sabrang Clinic.
Originally launched in 2021 through a collaboration between PEPFAR, USAID, and Johns Hopkins University’s ACCELERATE program, Mitr Clinic broke new ground as the country’s first specialized transgender healthcare facility. It closed in January 2025 after USAID’s funding was frozen, cutting off essential services to nearly 5,000 individuals who had come to rely on its holistic care model.
Now, with fresh investment from Tata Trusts, the facility has reopened as the Sabrang Clinic. This new chapter brings fresh hope, backed by a globally respected philanthropic organization. Located in Narayanguda, the center is once again offering essential medical services tailored to the needs of transgender people. These include gender-affirming care, HIV treatment, mental health support, and general wellness, all delivered in a safe and stigma-free environment.
A Community-Driven Revival
What makes Sabrang Clinic especially significant is who runs it. The clinic is fully staffed and managed by transgender professionals, creating a rare and empowering space where patients receive culturally competent care from people who understand their lived experience. The staff are not only medical providers but also trusted advocates, ensuring that care is both compassionate and informed.
Open from Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sabrang Clinic welcomes patients with confidentiality, respect, and empathy. Its providers create a sense of belonging that many transgender people have never experienced in traditional healthcare systems.
Bridging a Critical Healthcare Gap
Transgender people in India continue to face widespread discrimination in medical settings. Many report experiences of being misgendered, subjected to intrusive questioning, or denied care altogether. These barriers are further compounded by social stigma and mental health challenges. Clinics like Sabrang are essential in helping close these gaps by offering trans-inclusive, affirming care.
Although the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act of 2019 was intended to safeguard legal protections, implementation has been inconsistent. Many trans individuals still struggle to access quality healthcare that respects their identities and meets their unique needs.
Why This Matters
- Restored access to care: The relaunch reestablishes services that were lost, including gender-affirming treatments, HIV prevention, and mental health care.
- Leadership from within: With transgender staff in control, Sabrang Clinic breaks from traditional healthcare hierarchies and centers the voices of those it serves.
- A model for the future: This clinic can inspire similar efforts across India, becoming a blueprint for inclusive care in other cities and states.
The Bottom Line
Challenges remain, including ensuring sustainable funding, expanding services to other regions, and training medical professionals to deliver inclusive care. However, with the reopening of Sabrang Clinic, India takes a meaningful step toward a more equitable healthcare system for transgender people.
This clinic’s revival is more than operational. It is symbolic of resilience, trust, and community empowerment. Sabrang Clinic stands not only as a medical center but as a beacon of hope and dignity, a reminder that when transgender people lead their own care, true healing becomes possible.
