219 ventilators non-functional in J&K hospitals: Govt

Jammu, Feb 18: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Wednesday informed the House that out of 877 ventilators installed across hospitals in the Union Territory, 219 remain non-functional, highlighting gaps in critical care infrastructure.
Replying to a question of MLA Shamim Firdous, Health and Medical Education Department Minister Sakeena Itoo, said that 658 ventilators are functional while 219 are non-functional.
While giving institution-wise details, she said that in GMC Jammu and its associated hospital there are 320 ventilators, among which 209 are functional and 111 are non-functional.
“In SMHS Srinagar, 08 ventilators are non-functional and in GMC Srinagar associated hospitals excluding SMHS, 44 are non-functional,” they said.
They said, in GMC Anantnag, just 10 out of 36 ventilators are functional. GMC Baramulla has 2 non-functional ventilators, GMC Doda 10, GMC Kathua 2 and GMC Rajouri 3 are non-functional,” they said adding in GMC Udhampur and GMC Handwara, all 39 and 6 ventilators respectively are functional.
The government further said, in SKIMS and its associated hospitals, out of 53 ventilators, 40 are functioning while 13 are non-functional. (KNO)