Shopian, Jul 12: Patients in south Kashmir’s Shopian district say they are increasingly being forced to seek treatment at private clinics or travel to other districts due to the non-availability of key specialists at the District Hospital Shopian (DHS), raising concerns over access to affordable healthcare.
The hospital lacks specialists such as cardiologists, gastroenterologists and urologists, while expensive diagnostic equipment, including an echocardiography (Echo) machine, remains unused due to the shortage of trained personnel to operate it. Officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the hospital is currently short of 10 doctors and 48 paramedical staff, severely affecting the delivery of specialised healthcare services.
The healthcare facility was upgraded to district hospital status after Shopian was carved out as a separate district in 2008. It caters to the healthcare needs of more than 2.5 lakh residents from the district and adjoining areas.
“Patients have no option but to visit private clinics, which have mushroomed across the district because crucial specialists are unavailable at the district hospital,” said Javed Ahmad, a resident. “Those who cannot afford private treatment are the worst affected.”
Residents said that despite the hospital’s upgraded status, the shortage of specialist doctors and technical staff has persisted for years, forcing patients to travel to Srinagar or Anantnag for consultations and advanced treatment.
“This not only increases out-of-pocket expenditure but also delays timely medical care, particularly for elderly patients and those suffering from chronic illnesses,” said MithaGatoo, a civil society member.
Gatoo said the hospital’s echocardiography machine has remained largely unused because there are no trained specialists or technicians available to operate it.
“The authorities install diagnostic machines without ensuring that specialists or trained technicians are posted to run them. Equipment worth lakhs of rupees is lying idle while patients continue to suffer,” he said.
He said the civil society had approached the higher authorities on several occasions, urging them to fill vacant posts and strengthen specialist services at the hospital, but little had changed.
Gatoo also expressed concern over the growing burden of lifestyle diseases in Kashmir, particularly non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), saying the absence of a gastroenterologist at the district hospital often results in delayed diagnosis and treatment.
“Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is on the rise in Kashmir. Early diagnosis is critical, but patients have to wait or travel outside the district because there is no gastroenterologist available here. That delay can prove costly,” he said.
He said the district also urgently requires a full-time cardiologist, noting that cardiovascular diseases are increasingly affecting younger people.
“We have seen several young patients suffer fatal heart attacks. A cardiologist at the district hospital could make a significant difference by ensuring timely diagnosis and emergency intervention,” he added.
Ashiq Hussain, another resident, said the absence of specialist care has fuelled the rapid expansion of private clinics in the district, leaving many families with little choice but to spend heavily on healthcare.
“When specialist services are unavailable in a government hospital, people are compelled to seek treatment in the private sector. For poor families, these expenses become an unbearable burden,” he said.
An official at the District Hospital Shopian, speaking on the condition of anonymity, acknowledged the staffing crisis.
“The hospital is facing a shortage of 10 doctors and 48 paramedical staff. We have repeatedly conveyed the matter to the higher authorities and hope the vacant posts will be filled soon so that services can be strengthened,” the official said.
Residents and civil society members have urged the government to fill vacant posts, deploy specialist doctors and trained technicians, and ensure that existing diagnostic equipment is put to use so patients can access quality healthcare closer to home.
