Kupwara, Aug 7: The shortage of specialist doctors and lack of an ultrasonography (USG) facility at the recently upgraded Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Vilgam in Ramhall area are affecting patient care to a large extent, thus subjecting people particularly pregnant women to visit Government Medical College (GMC) Handwara or SDH Kupwara for consultations and diagnostic tests.
Locals said that the hospital which caters to over hundred villages was functioning without a gynaecologist and several other specialist doctors.
“The lack of USG facility has further compounded the problems of patients, especially expectant mothers who require periodic ultrasound scans during pregnancy,” socio-political activist Nadeem Ahmad Khan told Greater Kashmir.
“While X-ray services are available at the hospital, they remain functional only during office hours, leaving emergency patients with no access to diagnostic imaging during evenings and nights.
“We welcomed the upgradation of the hospital with the hope that specialist doctors and essential diagnostic facilities would be made available here, however there is no gynaecologist or USG facility with the result patients continue to suffer,” Ajaz Manzar a local from Kukroosa told this correspondent.
“The pregnant women are among the worst sufferers. They are forced to travel to Handwara or Kupwara for routine ultrasound examinations. Besides due to lack of specialist doctors, patients are subjected to severe hardships interms of visiting SDH Kupwara, GMC Handwara or take consultation from doctors at private clinics,” he added.
The residents said that the upgraded hospital should be equipped to meet the healthcare needs of the local population instead of compelling patients to travel outside the area.
The residents urged the Health and Medical Education Department to post a gynaecologist and other specialist doctors at SDH Vilgam, install a USG machine and ensure round-the-clock X-ray services so that patients can access timely healthcare closer to their homes.
Reacting to the concern, BMO Ramhal Dr Ghulam Raheem said that although this hospital has been upgraded to SDH level but creation of posts for specialised doctors was yet to be. “I hope that creation of posts will be made soon, following which people will have services of specialised doctors at SDH Vilgam,” he added.
“We have only one X-ray technician at the hospital so keeping the facility available round the clock was impossible,” he added.
