Patients suffer as city hospitals lack overhead footbridges

Srinagar, Dec 22: Patients and attendants continue to experience inconveniences due to the absence of overhead footbridges near New Children Hospital in Bemina and another between Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital and Super Speciality Hospital at Shreen Bagh.
Attendants from different areas of Kashmir visiting the hospitals on daily basis said the lack of overhead foot bridges is compelling people to cross the road in a jiffy which is a risk.
More than a year back, the Jammu and Kashmir Health Department shifted the pediatric services of GB Pant Hospital at Sonwar to the newly constructed 500-bedded Children Hospital in the Bemina locality of Srinagar.
However, when the hospital was shifted people had then raised the need of an overhead foot bridge as attendants often have to cross the Highway to get to other side.
Nasir Ahmad, an attendant from Pattan who recently visited the hospital there is dire need of an overhead bridge. “Patients and attendants coming from different parts of Kashmir face a lot of problems when they cross the road. There should be an identified crossing at least as the highway remains busy with huge flow of traffic,” he said.
The attendant demanded construction of an overhead bridge outside the valley’s lone pediatric tertiary care hospital just like the one constricted near JVC few years back.
Bilal Ahmad, from Budgam said he recently escaped a miracle when he crossed the road along with his two ailing children during traffic jam outside the hospital.
“Attendants have to go out to buy medicines 24/7 as this is a new hospital and there no private pharmacy shops near the hospital. The authorities should take note of this issue. There are also chances of a road accident,” he said.
A large number of patients visit the hospital every day from the by-pass and it is difficult for them to cross the road as the place sans crossing.
A year ago, the authorities at the New Children Hospital in Bemina had written to the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir for the same. However, there has been no progress till date. Officials said the hospital has again sent a reminder to the Divisional Administration.
Similarly, there is demand of another overhead footbridge between Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital and Super Speciality Hospital at Shreen Bagh. Patients from different areas of who visit the hospitals daily have to face inconveniences.
“There was a plan with the GMC authorities some four years back for the establishment of an overhead footbridge. But there is no update on that. The bridge was aimed to establish a dedicated and secure pathway between these two vital healthcare facilities,” said an official at SMHS hospital.
The GMC Srinagar authorities in 2016 had shifted some of the major departments to Super Specialty Hospital which often requires patients to go here and there for treatment.
“Critical patients or patients who are on oxygen support often need to shift from SSH to SMHS for diagnostic procedures and consultations which becomes difficult they cross the road between the two hospitals,” said Javid Ahmad, an attendant.
Patients are compelled to move between the two medical facilities by either crossing a bustling road or depending on wheelchairs and stretchers.
“If there is an overhead bridge, it would ease patients and attendants. The main road often witnesses traffic jams that become difficult when shifting critical patients,” Javid said.
An official of GMC Srinagar said some budget issues with the medical college may have come as a hindrance in this project.