Srinagar, Feb 16: Patients visiting SDH Tangmarg in Baramulla district are waiting for the completion of a building meant for maternity services that has affected healthcare in the area.
Local residents said the patients, especially pregnant women who visit the hospital face immense inconveniences due to space constraints and the building is still incomplete.
Saleem Ahmad, a resident of Tangmarg the health department has failed to expand the gynecology section in the vital health facility which has affected maternity services.
“Six years ago, government started construction of an additional block for its gynecology section but it is yet to be completed,” he said. The resident said they had many times taken up the matter with the health department but the building has not been completed till date.
“If the building would have been completed on time it would have eased the maternity care. The hospital caters to nearly 50 villages in the area. We do not know why there is so much of delay in the construction of the building,” he told Rising Kashmir
“This is one of old hospitals but it has been neglected for decades. Even patients suffering from minor ailments are referred to Srinagar hospitals for treatment,” he said.
He also complained that machines in the hospital’s dental section have been damaged and have not been repaired which is forcing patients to move to private dental clinics.
Mushtaq Ahmad, another resident said the hospital lacks trauma care services and is ill-equipped to handle emergencies despite being a tourist resort.
“Oftentimes, medicines are given to blue-eyed patients while poor patients are compelled to buy medicines from private shops which is unaffordable. The hospital gets enough drug supply from the health department. Sugar patients are the worst sufferers,” he said.
Mushtaq also said the hospital face shortage of doctors and skilled nurses which is also a reason why people move to private clinics where treatment is unaffordable.
However, Chief Medical Officer, Baramulla, Dr Bashir Ahmad Malik said that the issue of the building has been sorted out and the building will be completed and handed over to the health department in March 2023. “We have taken up the issue of the building with the concerned agency,” he said.
Regarding shortage of doctors and paramedical staff, the CMO said, “We have taken up the matter with the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir and we hope that we get more doctors.”
