Lack of cardiologist at GMC B’la hampers cardiac care in North Kashmir

Three months on, health dept fails to post cardiologist, locals demand action
Srinagar, Feb 22: The Health and Medical Education Department has failed to post a cardiologist at Government Medical College (GMC) Baramulla which has severely affected cardiac care in North Kashmir, leaving hundreds of patients in distress.
The lone major tertiary care facility, GMC Baramulla plays a crucial role in providing specialized medical services. However, the recent transfer of lone cardiologist has created a void, forcing cardiac patients to seek treatment in Srinagar or other distant locations.
For the past two years, the new medical college had a single cardiologist catering to the needs of cardiac patients from Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Sopore, Tangmarg, Kandi Baramulla, and adjoining areas.
The doctor, who was a DM cardiology specialist under DHSK, has been appointed as an assistant professor at GMC Udhampur. As a result, patients are now struggling for timely diagnosis and treatment, putting many severe heart patients at risk of fatalities.
Attendants said in the absence of a specialist, severe cases like heart attacks, heart failure, and stroke cannot be managed effectively, resulting in preventable deaths.
Adil Ahmad, a resident of Baramulla said on Saturday his brother suffered severe heart pain at his home which away from 30 kilometres from the hospital.
“In a hurry, we took him to the nearby PHC and then to GMC Baramulla, where his troponin test was conducted. However, since there is no cardiologist, we couldn’t consult a specialist, which is unfortunate,” he said.
Residents and patients voiced their concern saying they have no choice but to travel to Srinagar, which is time-consuming and risky for a cardiac patient.
Officials said in contrast, GMC Anantnag, which serves South Kashmir, has comparatively better cardiac services, including the presence of specialists who ensure timely intervention for heart-related ailments.
“This disparity has further fueled resentment among North Kashmir’s residents, who feel neglected in terms of healthcare infrastructure and specialist availability,” said an official.
“Early intervention is a key in cardiac cases. Without a specialist on-site, patients lose precious time putting them at risk. This critical gap must be addressed urgently to ease the suffering of patients,” said a doctor at the facility.
The residents of north Kashmir have demanded the appointment of a permanent cardiologist at the medical college to provide cardiac services to the patients
However, Dr. Parvaiz Masoodi, Medical Superintendent of Associated Hospital Baramulla, said they have taken up the matter with higher authorities and expect that a cardiologist will be posted soon.