Health Dept to upgrade PHC Chanpora, procure state-of-the-art machinery

Srinagar, May 27: More than a decade ago, the foundation stone for the 50-bed Primary Health Centre in Chanpora, Srinagar, was laid, however, it is still awaiting its upgradation despite significant public outcry.
Residents of the area said that the patients have been suffering due to lack of many facilities at the PHC and patients are compelled to move to other hospitals for treatment.
“The government has spent huge amount on the building and despite that no steps are being taken to transform the PHC into an SDH for better healthcare delivery as the hospital caters to huge population,” said Ishfaq Ahmad, a local resident.
Locals complained that at most of the times patients are compelled to move to private hospitals and clinics for x-ray despite the fact that the PHC has x-ray machine available.
Chief Medical Officer, Srinagar, Dr Tahir Sajad said the Health Department Kashmir has taken many measures to upgrade PHC Chanpora and add healthcare facilities for patients.
“There is a one storey building occupied by the geriatric medicine. We want to relocate them. Secondly we are going for infrastructure upgradation and we are going to procure different types of machines in the yearly plan including the latest ultrasonography machine, portable digital x-ray etc. We have also ordered the analysers for the diagnostic lab,” he said.
The Chief Medical Officer stated that doctors and paramedical staff are being recruited under the National Health Mission to make it functional in a smooth manner.
“We aim to provide best healthcare facilities to patients and we are committed to make the theatre functional to cater to the expected population that will be a boon to them,” he said.
The CMO said that they have already made PHC Khanmoh functional 24/7 while only district and sub district hospitals run 24/7.
“We could try to make the PHC Chanpora functional 24/4 which requires enough manpower,” he said. The CMO also said that the government wants to make every PHC in Srinagar district and other areas of the valley functional round the clock.
He said that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) Government of India is moving some plans to make all PHCs functional 24/7 for better primary health facilities.
Earlier this month, a high-level delegation from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), during their Kashmir visit had inspected some of the PHCs in the valley and had appreciated their functioning round the clock.