Mansoor Peer
Srinagar, May 23: Healthcare services in north Kashmir’s Sopore town have been severely affected due to persistent neglect of three major health institutions, with residents raising concerns over inadequate staffing, shortage of medicines, and non-functional facilities.
Locals said that serious deficiencies at Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Sopore, PHC Tarzoo, and PHC Maharajpora have been causing immense hardship to patients and affecting the delivery of essential healthcare services.
Recently, a public delegation from Sopore met the Commissioner Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department and sought urgent intervention to address the issues confronting the three healthcare facilities.
“The lack of basic healthcare facilities at SDH Sopore, PHC Tarzoo and PHC Maharajpora is causing immense hardship to the people of the area,” said Hakim Rizwan Illahi, a resident of Sopore.
He alleged that SDH Sopore is facing a shortage of experienced staff during night hours, resulting in difficulties for emergency patients.
He further claimed that essential medicines are often unavailable and that inadequate staffing at ticket counters leads to long waiting times for patients.
“There is also a need for a female employee or operator for ultrasonography (USG) services to facilitate female patients,” he said.
The healthcare services at PHC Tarzoo are in deplorable condition, causing significant inconvenience to patients. According to residents, the facility’s X-ray room remains locked and non-functional, depriving people of a basic diagnostic service.
Furthermore, out of the 17 medical tests that should be available at the centre, only one is currently being conducted, severely limiting its diagnostic capabilities.
The situation is further aggravated by the shortage of essential medicines, including commonly prescribed drugs such as Pantoprazole and antibiotics.
Residents also said that the wards at the health centre remain closed, preventing patients from accessing admission and inpatient care facilities. They expressed concern that these deficiencies are adversely affecting healthcare delivery and forcing many patients to seek treatment elsewhere.
At PHC Maharajpora, locals alleged that an acute shortage of staff has severely affected healthcare services. They said the lack of adequate medical and support personnel is hampering patient care and limiting the centre’s ability to cater to the healthcare needs of the local population.
Residents urged the Health and Medical Education Department to ensure proper staffing, availability of medicines, functional diagnostic facilities and overall improvement in healthcare services at the three institutions.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Baramulla, Dr. A.G. Raina, refuted the allegations regarding the shortage of medicines, stating that adequate stocks are available in government health institutions.
He said that medicines are available in large quantities and that additional supplies are procured at BMO level whenever required to ensure uninterrupted patient care.
“SDH Sopore caters to nearly 2,500 patients and all of them are provided medicines free of cost,” Dr. Raina said.
Responding to concerns about the non-functional X-ray facility at PHC Tarzoo, he said that he would look into the matter and verify its status. He also assured that necessary steps would be taken to ensure that all prescribed diagnostic tests are conducted at the health centre.