Suhail Bhat
Srinagar Dec 27: The Sub District Hospital at Achabal in Anantnag district is battling with inadequate healthcare facilities and infrastructure despite the passing of two years since the facility was upgraded.
The residents said the hospital was upgraded to end the healthcare deficiency of the area but people continue to suffer. “The hospital has been upgraded on paper and nothing has happened on the ground”, a local said.
They said the performance of the department can be judged by the fact that the hospital still carries the sign board of a Primary Health Centre. “Leave other things, administration has not changed the sign board. It shows the seriousness of the Government towards the project and people”, Imtiyaz Ahmad, a resident said.
Apart from the sign board, the hospital has also not been provided with the required staff and medical equipment. The residents complained that the hospital has a shabby operation theatre which lack the equipment needed to conduct a surgery.
“The post of surgeon and anesthetist have been allotted to the hospital but they are attached with the SDH Bijbehara. There is no Gynaecologist in the hospital. Only BUMS doctor is available during night hours, “,” Bashir Ahmad, a local said, adding that the hospital is not connected with an emergency electric line and faces frequent power cuts.
The locals said that there are around 2 lakh people who are dependent on the facility for their healthcare needs. The residents are facing hardships in the absence of the required facilities and are forced to travel long distances for healthcare. Besides, they said, digital X-ray is not available in the hospital.
Last year the department prepared a Detailed Project Report of around Rs 4 crores for the construction of new building but no headways have been made thereafter. “The department has prepared a site plan last year for new building and prepared and DPR of around Rs 4 crores but the construction has not started so far”, Gul Mohamamd, president of the local Auqaf Committee said.
The locals said they have repeatedly raised the issue with authorities without any success. “We have met Advisors who gave us assurances. Last time they sent some doctors. The patients have to move to private hospitals in absence of OTs,” he said.
Chief Medical Officer Anantnag, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, said of all the hospitals in the district the SDH has maximum numbers of doctors available. “All the doctors are present. I had attached around 6-7 doctors who were called back after locals protested three months back,” he said, adding that the proposal for the building has already been sent to Government.
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