Srinagar, Dec 19: The long wait of the people of Handwara for better healthcare facilities at District Hospital Handwara seems unending as the new hospital building lacks funds. Also, paediatrics wards are being added to new buildings, which can affect the three wards of the hospital, according to locals.
As per the reports, the paediatric hospital has separate funds available, and due to unknown reasons, the said wards are being adjusted at the new hospital building, affecting the district hospital’s surgical ward, medical ward, and other wards.
The people in this north Kashmir district said that for the last two years they have been given “false hopes” of the new hospital building being made operational. However, it has been a long time since there appears to be no relief for the common people, a group of patients at the hospital told Rising Kashmir.
They said the people in the town have suffered immensely for the last many years as the existing hospital building lacks proper space where 2 to 3 patients with different diseases are accommodated in a single bed.
“We don’t understand that despite having enough funds why they have to combine this building with paediatric wards. This indicates that some people want to steal a lot of money,” a patient from Ramhall said, adding that several deadlines have passed and the new hospital building is yet to be made functional.
“This is a border area, and people from across the border areas including Machil, Tanghdar, and Mawer come here for treatment. However, due to space issues, they are facing problems,” he said.
Another local, Manzoor Ahmad, said, “The new hospital building is yet to be made, and it is being said that if the paediatric ward is added to this building, many other wards will be affected. If this is true, then what is the fun of constructing these big buildings?” Manzoor said. “Last year, they said that 90 percent of the work has been completed. How long shall we wait?”
However, the Deputy General Manager (DGM) Urban Bodies said the work on the building is almost complete and that they are facing a dearth of funds.
“Out of Rs 60 crore, 44 crores were spent, and there is a need for around Rs 10 crore to make this hospital building functional,” the officer said, adding, “If the funds are released, the building would be completed by March.”
