Jahangeer Ganaie
Shopian, Nov 6: The residents of Watchi village in South Kashmir’s Shopian district have voiced serious concern over the inadequate healthcare services at the New Type Primary Health Centre (NTPHC) Watchi, saying the facility continues to remain without basic diagnostic equipment and suffers from a shortage of medical staff even years after its upgradation.
Locals said the centre was upgraded from a sub-centre to an NTPHC several years ago, and a new building was inaugurated in January 2020. However, despite this upgrade, the institution has failed to cater to the needs of the population.
They said that the absence of testing facilities such as routine blood tests, urine analysis, and other basic diagnostics has made the centre almost non-functional for common patients.
“Only immunisation is being done here. Even for minor illnesses, patients are forced to travel to Zainapora or Shopian,” said Shabir Ahmad, a resident. “This becomes a big burden, especially for poor families who have to spend both time and money just to get basic tests done.”
Locals said that after repeated representations, a doctor was posted at the NTPHC this year, but despite that, the centre continues to operate without essential equipment and with limited staff.
They claim around 50 patients visit the centre daily, but most of them return without any benefit due to lack of proper services. “The building may appear new from outside, but without manpower and testing facilities, it serves little purpose,” another resident said.
People of the area said they have repeatedly approached the concerned authorities regarding the issue, but no concrete steps have been taken so far.
Residents urged the Health Department to immediately post additional staff and make necessary diagnostic facilities available so that the NTPHC becomes fully functional and patients are not forced to travel long distances for simple medical needs.
They appealed to higher authorities for urgent intervention in this regard.
