Srinagar, May 02: Patients from dozens of villages in Khag in Budgam and its adjoining villages continue to suffer due to inadequate primary healthcare services taking a toll on health care.
Residents said although there is a Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Khag catering to more than 34 villages, the primary healthcare remains compromised.
On 26 April, a 60-year-old patient with severe chest pain was brought to the PHC. However, his attendants claimed that there were no syringes or painkiller injections available which compelled them to purchase from the market.
Nazir Ahmad, an attendant, said the patient was not managed well and was referred to JVC Srinagar. “We reached the hospital at 7 pm and had to wait for two hours for the ambulance to take the patient to JVC Srinagar. The ambulance left the hospital at 9 pm and the patient died on the way to Srinagar,” he said.
Nazir said the hospital lacks manpower and basic healthcare facilities. “There is an X-ray machine and diagnostic lab but it doesn’t function 24×7, leaving the patients to suffer,” he said.
Khag is the only tehsil deprived of an SDH despite having a population of over 60,000, a local said, adding that the area is in dire need of better healthcare.
“This is the only PHC here and it is grappling with the shortage of doctors and paramedical staff. There are no specialist doctors who would cater to the needs of patients,” he lamented.
The lack of basic healthcare facilities at the PHC is compelling patients to visit SDH Magam and other Srinagar hospitals, which is unaffordable for poor patients.
Abdul Rouf, another resident, said pregnant women suffer the most as they have no option but to travel to Magam and Srinagar for minor ailments.
He said the civil society of Khag and other villages had taken up the matter several times with the health department and district administration but nothing was done.
“The health department should visit these areas and take immediate steps to sanction SDH which is the only option if they want to provide better healthcare facilities,” he said.
Block Medical Officer, Khag, Dr Arshad Rasool Baba said the elderly patient was put on oxygen at the hospital and the patient couldn’t make it when he was on the way to Srinagar.
“The patient, as per the available resources, was managed in a nice way. He was shifted on time; unfortunately, he could not make it as he was in severe distress,” he said.
About the lack of syringes or painkiller injections, Baba said they get enough supply and that is used for patients. A lot of things have improved in the hospital, he claimed.
Regarding the demand for SDH status, the BMO said the department has sent a feasibility report to the higher authorities and proposed a Sub-District Hospital for the area.
The PHC is a rural health centre of the Department of SPM, GMC Srinagar and has dual administrative control of both the medical college and Directorate of Health Services Kashmir (DHSK).
An official of the DHSK said the department follows Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) norms before sanctioning any health facility.
