Srinagar, Jan 02: The residential quarter of Primary Health Centre (PHC) Kalantra in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, constructed fifteen years ago for staff, is still non-functional.
The PHC has been functioning as a Rural Training Health Centre (RHTC) under Government Medical College Baramulla since 2019 and the quarter (meant for staff) continues to face neglect.
Residents of Kalantra and its adjoining areas said the health facility caters to hundreds of patients from more than a dozen villages.
“When the PHC Kalantra was converted into Rural Training Health Centre, the locals of the area were promised upgradation and improved healthcare. However, the quarter building has not been made functional,” said Ghulam Mohammad, a resident.
After the conversion to RHTC, we were promised that the facility would be developed and people will have health facilities at their doorsteps, he added.
Mohammad said that 15 years ago, a residential quarter was constructed for hospital staff but has not been handed over to the health department, and remains in shambles.
“Had the quarter been made functional, it would have streamlined the deployment of night staff, otherwise having it unused for over a decade is unfortunate,” he said.
The civil society of Kalantra said they have many times raised the issue of the residential quarter with higher-ups of the health department but it has not been made functional.
“The building was constructed successfully; however, it was later damaged; even its window panes and materials were looted,” the locals said.
The hospital is centrally located and caters to over 30,000 population from villages including Kalantra Payeen, Kalantra Bala, Danmoh, Kakothal, Kachwa, Muqam, Darwa, Mungam, Bandipayeen, Kohlina, Saterseeran, Nagbal and other adjoining villages.
Principal GMC Baramulla, Dr Ruby Reshi, said the building would be redeveloped under the R&B Department and they have suggested Rs 1 crore budget provisions of the same. “We have kept it under the Capex. It would be renovated to make it functional,” she assured.
Dr Ruby added, “Earlier, we didn’t know when the residential quarter building was constructed. Later, we took the matter with the concerned department. We are working on it and we are concerned about the issue.”
