Srinagar, Nov 03: Several rural hospitals in Kashmir Valley are facing shortage of specialist doctors including gynaecologists leaving the patients in far off places to suffer.
The shortage of gynaecologists in peripheral hospitals has badly affected maternity services as expecting mothers continue to travel longer distances for child deliveries.
The healthcare facilities especially maternity services have been affected due to shortage of doctors in hospitals in Tangdar, Kupwara despite the region being close to Line of Control.
Residents of Tangdar and its adjoining areas have been voicing their concern over the years but doctors have not been posted there leaving nearly one lakh residents to suffer.
Sadam Ahmad, a resident, said the 30-bedded SDH has faced neglect over the years and there is shortage of doctors including gynaecologists, child specialists, physicians, surgeons etc.
“Pregnant women are the worst sufferers. When expecting mothers visit the SDH they are referred to Handwara and Srinagar hospitals which is tiresome,” Sadam said.
During winter months, Sadna top remains closed due to snowfall disconnecting Tangdar and people suffer a lot.
Similarly, there is also a shortage of gynaecologists at Community Health Centre (CHC) Dawar, Gurez in Bandipora leaving the expecting mothers to suffer.
Notably, Gurez is 72 kilometers away from Bandipora and 128 kilometers from Srinagar and the place remains cut off in winter months due to heavy snowfall.
Irshad Ahmad, a local resident, said no one is willing to come and serve there. “Last year, we highlighted the issue and one gynaecologist was posted here on rotation basis. This is an issue we face here every year leaving the women to suffer,” he said.
Irshad said that the pregnant women are compelled to move to Bandipora and Srinagar hospitals for treatment which is unaffordable for poor patients.
The residents they had also written many times to the Administrative Secretary, Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Department and other concerned authorities.
The problems worsen during winter as transportation facilities get affected and airlifting patients at critical stage becomes difficult for authorities. “Patients can only be airlifted when weather remains favourable otherwise they have no way to get airlifted,” he said.
Although the doctors there handle pregnant ladies with the help of medical officers, in critical cases especially in winter, it leaves them helpless and patients suffer.
Similarly, people from north Kashmir’s Baramulla district also complained that there is shortage of gynaecologists in the Sub District Hospitals and PHCs hitting patient care.
Health officials said their concern should be 24/7 maternity and child services at district and sub-district hospitals to decrease referrals but that isn’t done due to inadequate human resource.
As per the official in a district hospital, there should be 5-6 gynaecologists, paediatricians and anaesthesiologists while as a sub-district hospital must have at least four gynaecologists.
“There are some hospitals which are without gynaecologists. It is a major issue patients at peripheries are facing hitting antenatal care,” the official said.
Due to the inadequate number of doctors, a large number of women at peripheries have shocking experiences as at many places there are not even primary health centres.
He said there is a need for creation of gynaecologists in the peripheral hospitals so that the huge flow of patients in tertiary care hospitals would be minimized.
The Rural Health Statistics report 2021-22 of the Union Health Ministry has revealed that 25 posts of paediatricians and 24 posts of gynaecologists are vacant at CHCs in rural areas.
The lack of healthcare facilities in rural areas is evident because patients across places are compelled to move to district or sub-district hospitals for treatment of minor ailments.
Spokesperson Directorate of Health Services Kashmir, Dr Mir Mushtaq said the health department is working to improve maternity services in the rural areas.
“We promote institutional deliveries. The C-Section facilities are available in every District and Sub District Hospital and at most of the places these facilities work 24/7,” he said.
Mir said there might be some hospitals where there is no creation of posts. Regarding Gurez and Karnah, he said the department has come up with the innovative idea of deputing doctors on rotation basis in these difficult areas.
“Government is bound to make arrangements for these areas and it is our priority to provide better healthcare services for the people round the clock,” he said.
