Ganderbal: A vital primary health centre at chundina village of Shairpathri Ganderbal, meant to cater to the health care needs of about 18 villages, is running dry.
Inhabitants of the area accuse the government of delaying the development of a hospital intentionally. They said that the hospital has only two sanctioned doctors and no machinery. “There is no X-ray technian but x-ray machine is present in the PHE, and no staffers who would do the work,” said Abdul Ahad, a local.
Villagers said that despite over lakhs of amount being spent on it, the hospital is of no use due to the lack of doctors. “The hospital is a vital health centre, but it has not been brought under the night services provision, adding to people’s woes,” said Amir Hassan, another local, adding that their problems have remained unchanged even after the construction of the hospital building.
Among its facilities, the hospital has a huge building, an Indian System of Medicine doctor, a dental surgeon, a dental assistant and a Female Multipurpose Health Worker. Locals said that the hospital structure has a Ten beds and a huge, empty building.
“When we get any medical emergency at odd hours, we are forced to shift patients to the District hospital Ganderbal or Skims Soura. For that purpose, we need an ambulance, but this PHC does not have even a single vehicle for ferrying patients to Srinagar or neighbouring district hospitals during night hours ” a prominent social Activist Aqib Ul Ahad Wani said, “A gynaecologist is the need of the hour here, our women folk face too many problems in reaching the district hospital, but unfortunately that too has no facilities and huge rush,” a local resident said, adding that a doctor for the purpose should be deputed very soon for the hospital so that women folk would not suffer any more.
Meanwhile the locals have appealed the concerned authorities to look into the issues for an immediate redressal.
Meanwhile the locals also threatened of dire consequences if their demand was not met. “If they (Government) fail to deliver this time, we will block the roads ,” they warned.