Srinagar, Nov 07: Healthcare services in the Gurez Valley in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district continue to remain affected due to manpower shortage. This compels patients to travel to Bandipora and Srinagar hospitals for treatment and exposes them to the risk of fatalities during emergencies.
Gurez Valley, having a population of 40,000 people, is spread over 29 villages. It has one Community Health Centre (CHC) in Dawar, which faces severe manpower issues as posts have not been created.
Arshid Ahmad, a local, said the hospital faces a severe manpower shortage, and ultrasound scans are not performed despite the presence of a USG machine at the CHC.
He said pregnant women have to travel to Bandipora, approximately 70 kilometres from Gurez, a journey that takes them around four hours. “You can imagine the plight of pregnant women, how much they suffer,” he said. “There is no creation for the post of a radiologist and there are no technicians. Even the X-rays are done by non-professional employees.”
Locals said due to poor healthcare facilities, pregnant women are shifted either to Bandipora or Srinagar in September as Gurez remains cut off for six months due to heavy snowfall.
“Labourers and low-income workers, who only find employment for a few months each year, are among the worst affected. They are often forced to rent accommodation in Bandipora or Srinagar to ensure safe delivery for pregnant women,” Arshid said.
Recently, Minister for Social Welfare, School Education, Higher Education, and Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, toured Gurez and people brought these issues to her notice through a representation.
Although the district administration operates the helicopter service for emergencies ferrying people between Gurez and Bandipora during winter, locals said the permanent solution to the issue is the long pending demand for a tunnel that will ease their suffering.
Locals said the other hospitals in Gurez facing a shortage of manpower include PHC Sheikpora Tulial, PHC Badugam, NTPHC Bagtoor, NTPHC Barnal, NTPHC Gujran and MAC Badwan Gurez.
The problems worsen during winter as transportation facilities get affected and airlifting patients at critical stages becomes difficult for authorities. “Patients can only be airlifted if the weather remains favourable otherwise they have no way to get airlifted,” he said.
A senior official from Bandipora said there is no sanctioned position for a radiologist at CHC Dawar or in other rural hospitals, including District Hospital Bandipora, Sumbal, and other facilities across the district. “There has been no creation of posts for the past 10 years and the population has increased. Obviously, there will be a conflict,” he said.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Bandipora, Dr Rafi Ahmad said gynaecologists are sent to CHC Dawar on a rotation basis and they provide USG services to emergency cases only. “We have taken up the manpower issues with the concerned quarters. We utilise all the available resources to ensure that patient care is not affected,” the CMO said.
According to the Health Dynamics of India (Infrastructure & Human Resources) 2022-23 report released by the Union Health Ministry, Jammu and Kashmir’s rural CHCs face a shortage of manpower, especially of specialist doctors and paramedical staff.
