The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the major shortcomings of our health infrastructure completely. The administration is ensuring that major loopholes are plugged well in time to provide better healthcare facilities to the public. But it seems that at the Directorate level, the message is not clear yet. A Sub District Hospital has been built at a cost of Rs. 32 crores to cater to the two lahks plus population of Akhnoor, Jourian, Chowki Choura, Pargwal, Khour and Pallanwalla areas. Sanctioned and started in 2010 with a mandate of two years to complete, the hospital is still non- operational, though the inauguration had been done by the then Additional Chief Secretary, administrative head of the Health and Medical Education Department, a year ago. J&K Housing Board took a decade to complete the building with no specific reason for the delay. After completion, again it is the same old story of two Government Departments unable to sort out things amicably. On one hand, Housing Board is claiming the building has been handed over and on the other hand, Health Department is denying the handover. There is a dispute about an unpaid electricity bill of around fifteen lakhs, which can be adjusted into seven crores plus money saved during construction after proper administrative approval. While the two departments are busy shadowboxing, the public is denied proper hospital care despite everything that is available. The present SDH in the congested city is more as less working as referral hospital only. Critical patients lose precious time in reaching GMC Jammu. The matter is serious as it shows what is happening on the ground. Inaugurated SDH must have been included in the projects completed, but actually, it is not. The matter should get sorted out as early as possible. Denying healthcare facilities to the public on flimsy excuses is not acceptable, as it is a question of life and death for many in public.
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