Srinagar, Dec 21: Patients from different areas of north Kashmir have been irked due to non-availability of a nephrologist and poor bed strength at GMC Baramulla dialysis centre.
Patients from different areas of the district said they are facing many issues at the dialysis centre demanding its upgradation.
Javid Ahmad, a patient said the facility currently operates with a limited capacity of five beds, which is inadequate to cater to the growing number of patients requiring dialysis.
“Due to shortage of beds patients are often asked to wait for long hours which is causing immense inconvenience to the already distressed patients,” he said.
Patients have also demanded installation of safe and efficient heating systems, such as electric or central heating, to ensure a comfortable and secure environment for them.
On the other side, at the lone facility catering to north Kashmir renal patients the government has failed to post a nephrologist amid huge patient load.
“We cannot travel to Srinagar hospitals for dialysis which is unaffordable for many patients like us. We appeal to the government to upgrade the dialysis centre so that it can accommodate all the patients,” said Junaid, attending with his father at the facility.
Medical Superintendent Associated Hospital GMC Baramulla, Dr Parvaiz Masoodi said the dialysis center has eight dialysis machines of which one is dedicated to Hepatitis C and AIDS patients.
“The seven machines in double shifts cater to 14 patients per day coming to the facility,” he said, adding they have communicated the issue to higher authorities for its augmentation.
Dr Parvaiz said subsequently Deputy Commissioner Baramulla has also sanctioned Rs 1 crore from CSR fund for upgrading the dialysis section which is under process.
About the lack of nephrologists, the MS said they have already taken up the matter with the concerned authorities of the Health and Medical Education Department. He however said trained medical officers and staff are doing the work of dialysis effectively even on Sunday.
About the heating system at the dialysis center, he said the medical college is equipped with a high end VRV heating system however a few days back it suffered technical snag which is under repair and will be restored soon.
Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Minga Sherpa had stated that an extended facility for dialysis patients is being planned, which will double the bed capacity to 20.
