| At SDH Kupwara, docs battle patients' influx, space shortage | | | S.Tahir-Ul Haq
Early Times Report
KUPWARA, July 21: The sub district hospital Kupwara in north Kashmir has not been upgraded for about three decades, adding to woes of doctors and patients as well.
The SHD awaits upgradation to district level hospital and continues to be housed in the same building where it was inaugurated 30 years ago. The patient rush has increased manifold in the meantime.
Catering to over three lakh people of Kupwara and its adjoining areas, the 60-bed SDH has insufficient space due to which patients are referred to Srinagar and other places for advanced treatment.
There are dozens of far flung areas in Kupwara like Keran, Tangdhar, Kalaroos, Sogam and Lolab which are mostly dependent on this hospital, as in these areas health care system is very poor with no basic facility available.
Mohammad Ashraf of Lolab Early Times, "In absence of basic infrastructure and well trained staff in their areas, patients are regularly referred to the SDH Kupwara, even though sometimes they are referred to Srinagar hospital for treatment."
"During the past two decades, hundreds of pregnant women and serious patients died on way to Srinagar hospitals after being referred from Kupwara SHD for blood transfusion and specialized treatment," Ashraf said.
A senior doctor wished not to be named said, "We are lacking space, and it is true that patients suffers here badly, but we are helpless. On an average almost 2500-3000 patients visit the OPD of the hospital."
"The doctors are unable to cope with the increasing rush of patients, and acute shortage of space has not only left the patients but the medicos in dilemma too," he said. |
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