MLA Parra demands MRI, CT Scan, expanded facilities in Pulwama

Srinagar, Mar 13: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader and MLA Pulwama, Waheed Ur Rehman Parra on Thursday raised concerns in the Assembly over the state of healthcare services at District Hospital Pulwama.
Highlighting the growing public demand for better medical infrastructure, Parra urged the government to take immediate steps to strengthen, expand and upgrade the hospital’s facilities.
Parra, according to a statement issued here, sought an update on the measures taken to strengthen, expand, and upgrade healthcare services at District Hospital Pulwama. He urged the government to take steps to enhance healthcare services at the hospital. “There is a need for a separate diagnostic block equipped with high-end CT, MRI, DR System, advanced USG, and Doppler machines. This is a vibrant public demand,” he said.
In response, the government clarified that strengthening hospital services is a phased process carried out annually based on budget availability.”Specific steps have been taken to strengthen the existing facilities at District Hospital Pulwama. These include the upgradation of patient wards, expansion of the emergency care unit, and increasing the availability of specialised departments to enhance the hospital’s capacity to handle the growing patient influx,” it said.
The government informed MLA Pulwama that District Hospital Pulwama currently has a 200-bed capacity and caters to the healthcare needs of the district. It assured that CT scan, USG, and Doppler services are already operational within the hospital’s existing infrastructure. However, the government said the demand for a separate diagnostic block will be assessed based on its merits. “The installation of additional hospital machines and equipment is a continuous process prioritised annually under budgetary provisions,” it said.
The government clarified that an MRI machine is currently not available at the hospital. It explained that MRI machines are being allocated to tertiary-level hospitals, such as new government medical colleges, in a phased manner.
Addressing concerns over the old, dilapidated structure of District Hospital Pulwama, Parra proposed dismantling the outdated building and replacing it with a modern vertical structure. He said this would help the hospital accommodate more services and increase the number of beds.
In response, the government ruled out the immediate demolition of the existing structure, saying it is in good condition. The government assured that minor upgradation works required for the building would be carried out in due course after obtaining the necessary estimates.
The government said that hospital buildings cannot be dismantled without proper assessment, evaluation and adherence to the National Building Code (NBC) norms of India. It informed that the expansion of the casualty block is already in progress, which will increase its bed capacity from 13 to 40.
The government highlighted that a 50-bedded Critical Care Block is being constructed under the ECRP-II scheme at a cost of Rs 23.75 crore. “This block is aimed at strengthening the hospital’s infrastructure and improving healthcare services in Pulwama,” it said.