Valley hospitals suffer in absence of internet

Irfan Tramboo

Srinagar, Oct 2: As communication clampdown persists in the Valley, the hospitals have turned out to be worst sufferers with hundreds of tasks, including the clearance of cases under Ayushman Bharat Health Scheme and tendering process, lying pending.
Various hospitals in Kashmir over the period have requested the administration to allow them to at least have a lease line so that they can have an internet connection to clear various matters including the piled up cases under national health scheme, but so far, as per the hospital administrators, the recurring requests have fallen on deaf ears.
A hospital administrator told Excelsior that they have constantly been asking the concerned agencies to consider their case for having a lease line at the hospital. “But they have so far given us a cold shoulder. We have been caught in a quandary as we cannot turn down the patients, but at the same time, we are not able to process their cases,” he said.
Scores of developmental works vital for the functioning of various departments have also taken a hit as the tendering process set off by the hospitals is at its low. Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura has been publishing various e-tenders in the local newspapers, but the tenders have failed to generate any response, leading to additional hold up in the works.
Ironically, in the absence of internet connectivity, the SKIMS administration is keeping a watch on the tendering process by sending the concerned operator to the Deputy Commissioners office in Srinagar. The concerned parties are also not able to respond due to the overall clampdown on the communication.
“We are facing a tough situation with regard to the execution of works apart from providing the services that need an internet connection to the patients; the concerned parties have also failed to respond due to the gag,” an official handling the e-tendering process said.
Meanwhile, Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education Atal Dulloo told Excelsior over phone that he was conscious that the hospitals were facing issues with regard to several works ought to be carried out through the internet. “The issue has been brought into my notice, I will talk to the concerned and will get the needful done in this regard,” he said.
When told that the SKIMS along with other hospitals was facing issues with regard to having a lease line at their disposal to clear the cases under Ayushman Bharat and other stuff, he said that he will look into the matter.
“We had directed the hospital administrators to collect the documents from such patients and let them avail the benefits, but now they are facing some issues, I will make sure something is done in this direction,” he said.
When contacted, Medical Superintendent SKIMS Dr Farooq Jan told Excelsior that the hospital administration is actively pursuing the case of having a lease line at the hospital and that they were hopeful of some development soon.
It may be mentioned here that the Government has set-up internet kiosks in district headquarters across the Valley in order to facilitate people especially the students in filling up the scholarship forms. However, it has turned a blind eye towards the need of the internet connectivity in the health sector.

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