Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 21: Residents of Ganiwan in central Kashmir’s Kangan area today demanded that the New Type Primary Health Centre (NTPHC) in their locality be equipped with night staff and essential diagnostic equipment, as the facility is located in a remote area and caters to nearly 25,000 people from surrounding villages that lack access to basic healthcare services.
Located about 15 kilometers from Kangan town, the centre was inaugurated nearly a decade ago by then Forest Minister Mian Altaf Ahmed. Despite its official status as a Primary Health Center, locals say it functions more like an allopathic dispensary, with minimal infrastructure. “There is no night staff, no X-ray machine, and no laboratory here.Patients have to be taken to Kangan even for minor injuries. The board says it’s a PHC, but the reality is different, Ghulam Ahmed Rehna, a resident of Haji Ganjman said.
Nisar Ahmed, a resident of Hariganwan, echoed similar concerns. “The building is there, the setup is ready, but there is no equipment or doctors for night duty. We have approached the BDO, CMO, and ministers several times, but no one listens,” he said. He added that the absence of 24/7 medical services forces patients to travel long distances at night during emergencies, putting lives at risk.
When contacted, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Ganderbal, Dr. Bashir Ahmad, said, “The NTPHC functions from 10 am to 4 pm. There is ample staff, and all the diagnostic facilities required at an NTPHC are available. However, if there are any issues, we will look into them.”
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