Srinagar, Sept 12: The shortage of specialist doctors and paramedical staff has hit patient care at Community Health Centre cum trauma hospital Pattan raising eyebrows from people.
Locals of the area said earlier it was a Sub District Hospital and when it was shifted to a new place it was downgraded and the manpower was not recruited for the vital hospital.
“The health department has failed to post specialized doctors for trauma hospital which took 16 years to complete its construction amid public outcry,” said Mudasir Ahmad, a patient from Pattan.
Although there are theatres at trauma hospitals, there is a shortage of neurosurgeons and specialist doctors to run the trauma facility in order to tackle emergencies.
“Some well-known doctors were working here but they have been taken back. There is a shortage of doctors and people are suffering,” said a senior citizen.
He said the trauma facility was aimed to tackle emergencies that take place on Srinagar-Baramulla highway which is prone to road accidents. The lack of trauma facilities is putting lives of persons suffering from traumatic injuries at grave risk.
“After the opening of the trauma hospital, health authorities are still mute as they have failed to sanction posts of specialist doctors,” the local alleged.
They said in case of road accidents, injured people lose golden hours on the way to Srinagar hospitals and the manpower should have been made available at the hospital.
“The health department should conduct an inspection and fill the posts so that people don’t suffer. There are some posts which aren’t still created,” they demanded.
However, BMO Pattan, Dr. Mohammad Taha Khan said that the doctors remain available round the clock at the hospital saying shortage of staff never ends. “We have in -positioned strength of staff. Previously some doctors were transferred and later the arrangement was made,” he said.
Officials said due to lack of doctors they are not able to run the trauma facilities the way it should, adding that they have written to the government about the need of manpower.
