Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Dec 1: Owing to the shortage of syringes at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital (SMHS) Srinagar, the patients are forced to buy syringes from the market for the last four days, attendants said on Wednesday.
Attendants said that since the last four days they have been forced to buy syringes from outside which is taking a toll on patient-care.
“On one hand the government is making tall claims of the Ayushman Bharat scheme and on the other, the poor patients admitted in the premier health care institute of J&K are being asked to procure the essential items from the open market,” said an attendant.
He said that since the last four days, they have been requesting authorities to avail syringes but nothing has been done on ground.
Attendants requested concerned authorities to look into the matter at an earliest so that patients can heave a sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, Principal GMC Srinagar Dr Samia Rashid while acknowledging that there is shortage of 5 ml syringes in the hospital since the last four days said that the supply comes from Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL) and 5 ml syringes aren’t available there.
“They (JKMSCL) haven’t given us 5 ml syringes, from where we will bring them, despite that we have bought 25,000 syringes from our pocket money and what else can we do,” she said.
JKMSCL General Manager for Kashmir division Majid Mirab said that the hospital has the availability of 5 ml syringes and can purchase syringes themselves as well.
“They are already purchasing 25 percent of the stock themselves. The hospital authorities haven’t communicated with us in this regard and whatever was the annual demand we have already given it to them,” Mirab said.
