Srinagar, Aug 04: Inadequate health facilities and lack of staff are severely affecting patient care at Primary Health Centre (PHC) Magam in Handwara area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
Residents said the PHC serves nearly 30 villages, including Magam, Devaspora, Geripora, Tompora, Shojpora, Polpora, Zab, Bomdagar, and Putwari. However, the facility lacks basic amenities, forcing patients to travel long distances for essential healthcare.
Mohd Shafi Mir, a resident of Magam, said the 24×7 hospital, located at a high altitude, is grappling with a manpower shortage, as it lacks both a dental surgeon and a gynaecologist.
“Five years ago, the existing X-ray plant became defunct and has not been made functional since. Patients are forced to visit private dental clinics. The X-ray plant should be made functional. A dental surgeon was transferred, but the post has not been refilled,” he said.
Residents said that due to the absence of a gynaecologist, expecting mothers are compelled to travel to Chogal Handwara, 18 kilometres away, even for basic health check-ups.
Mir said that although the hospital has three doctors, one from the NHM, two from the Health Department and a BUMS doctor, there is a severe shortage of paramedical staff.
“We’ve been moving from pillar to post. We urge the authorities to post adequate staff, including doctors, on priority so that people can get some relief,” he said.
Locals said the health centre, set up in 1987, has no dental surgeon, causing serious inconvenience to elderly people who are unable to get age certificates needed for old-age pension schemes.
“Magam is an administrative block (medical zone) with all administrative wings except for the BMO. The BMO is currently posted at PHC Chogul, which is just a Panchayat Halqa. The BMO should be stationed at PHC Magam in Handwara, as the current arrangement undermines the entire block’s position in the health sector,” said Lone Amin, a resident.
He said the hospital’s high-altitude location makes access difficult and hampers healthcare delivery. “There is an urgent need to relocate this primary healthcare facility to a more accessible, centrally located area to serve the surrounding villages better,” he said.
The residents of Magam Block demanded the attention of the Chief Minister, Health Minister, Chief Secretary, and Director Health Services Kashmir to intervene and take immediate steps to resolve this long-standing public health issue at the health facility.
People also complained that most of the staff at the PHC frequently remain absent from their duties, which has severely affected patient care services in the area.
Talking to Rising Kashmir, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Kupwara, Dr. Masrat Iqbal Wani, admitted the lacunas and said efforts are underway to resolve the issues at the earliest. “I have visited the facility. We are working to depute a dental surgeon and a gynaecologist on an internal adjustment basis to ensure all essential services are available,” he said.
The CMO added that the defunct X-ray machine would be made functional on priority, and an X-ray technician would be posted at the hospital soon.
