Arif Rashid
Budgam, May 15: Residents of Harwani village in Khansahib tehsil of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district have expressed concern over the delay in completion of the Primary Health Centre (PHC) building, alleging that patients continue to suffer due to inadequate healthcare facilities in the area.
Locals said that despite the government spending a significant amount on the construction of the PHC building, the facility is still functioning from a rented accommodation where basic medical facilities are unavailable.
Javid Ahmad Khan, a resident of Harwani, said that construction work on the PHC building began in 2015 and that the rooftop work was completed during 2022 and 2023. However, he said no further construction activity has taken place since then.
“The government sanctioned the health centre building so that people from Harwani and adjoining villages could receive proper treatment near their homes. However, the building remains incomplete and patients continue to face immense difficulties,” he said.
Khan added that the health institution earlier functioned as a dispensary providing first-aid services and was later upgraded to a Primary Health Centre in 2014. Following the upgrade, funds were sanctioned for the construction of a separate building.
He urged the authorities to expedite the pending work so that the facility can be made functional at the earliest.
Another local resident, Ghulam Ahmad Khan, said that patients from the area are being forced to travel to Sub-District Hospital Khansahib, District Hospital Budgam, and Srinagar hospitals due to the absence of proper facilities at the PHC.
“The health centre is functioning from a rented building where even basic facilities are lacking. Patients from several villages dependent on this centre are facing severe inconvenience,” he said.
He further alleged that although an ambulance had been provided for the PHC, it remained stationed at Sub-District Hospital Khansahib instead of serving the local population.
“Nearly 19,000 people are dependent on this health centre. The nearest Sub-District Hospital is around seven kilometres away, which is the reason the government sanctioned both the PHC building and an ambulance service for the area,” he added.
Residents said around 70 percent of the construction work has been completed, while pending works include installation of doors and windows, water and electricity connections, and fencing around the premises.
An official from the Block Medical Office Khansahib said that funds have now been received for completion of the remaining work on the PHC building.
“Once the construction is completed, the building will be formally handed over to the Health Department,” the official said.