Baramulla, Dec 06: The Associated Hospital of Government Medical College (GMC) in Baramulla faces a mounting challenge as an increasing number of unnecessary patient referrals from peripheral hospitals in north Kashmir strain its resources, impacting patient care.
Hospital authorities report a daily influx of 2500-3000 patients, with hundreds referred from tertiary hospitals, burdening GMC Baramulla.
A healthcare official told Rising Kashmir that of the 1200 referrals between May 2023 and November this year, around 730 cases were identified as non-genuine, placing severe strain on resources and hindering patient care. “Overcrowding issue poses a significant challenge for doctors and paramedical staff, prompting concerns among healthcare professionals,” he said.
The official stressed the importance of proper patient assessment at the local level to alleviate the tertiary hospital’s burden. “This will not only reduce the burden on the tertiary hospital but also optimize resources for the betterment of patient care,” he said.
Medical Superintendent AHGMC Dr Parvaiz Masoodi said that despite the daily patient load, the hospital authorities are taking steps to address the situation.”Six ticket counters are already there to tackle the massive rush of patients and an allocated budget of Rs 42 lakh for the MRD section, under aspirational district projects, are expected to streamline processes,” he said.
Despite challenges, Dr Parvaiz acknowledged the hospital’s responsibility to provide medical care to patients from peripheral hospitals. However, he underscored the staffing limitations, with only 300-350 beds available to accommodate the persistent influx.
The referrals predominantly originate from areas including Kupwara, Handwara, Kreeri, Uri, Boniyar, Sheeri, Pattan, Sopore, Rohama and Dangiwacha extending to parts of Bandipora and Budgam.
The MS expressed concern over the situation, highlighting the impact on patient care due to the influx of cases that do not necessitate advanced treatment.
