Umaisar Gull Ganie
Kulgam, May 21: Even as the government claims to provide better healthcare to the patients in the Valley hospitals amid COVID-19 pandemic, the district hospital Kulgam lacks an endoscopy machine, leaving the patients to suffer.
Locals said many patients at hospital could not be treated for gastroenterology related disorders for the want of endoscopy.
The attendants of patients said that they have to travel several kilometres to get the endoscopy done or have to visit a private clinic that costs thousands of rupees.
“Everyone in the valley is facing stomach problems but due to unavailability of endoscopy machines patients have no choice but to walk long distances to get their tests done,” Ashiq Nabi, an attendant said.
“The private labs charge thousands of rupees, which is not affordable for many poor patients,” he said. “I appeal to the administration to immediately equip the hospital with all such crucial facilities.”
When contacted, Medical Superintendent Dr Muzafar Zargar admitted that the endoscopy machine of the hospital is lying defunct.
“It is true that there is no endoscopy machine in the hospital as it was very old and has become defunct,” Zargar said.
