Breathing space denied

While the government is claiming high and tall over strengthening healthcare, the data provided in the Legislative Assembly has raised concerns. The government has mentioned that out of 877 ventilators installed across hospitals in the region, 219 remain non-functional. The revelation is deeply troubling as such gaps are not mere statistics but represent lives placed at risk. Ventilators are critical life-support systems. For patients battling severe respiratory illnesses, trauma, cardiac complications or infectious diseases, a working ventilator can mean the difference between life and death. When nearly a quarter of these machines lie defunct, it reflects systemic shortcomings in maintenance, technical staffing, and accountability. The impact is felt most acutely in peripheral and district hospitals, where options are limited and referrals to tertiary centres often involve long travel times. Families are forced into desperate searches for available ICU beds, incurring emotional and financial strain. In emergencies, delays caused by non-functional equipment can prove fatal. The suffering is silent but profound, patients gasping for breath, relatives scrambling for help and overburdened medical staff working with constrained resources. This situation also raises questions about planning and follow-through. Procurement is only the first step; sustained maintenance contracts, trained biomedical engineers, regular audits, and prompt repair mechanisms are equally vital. Equipment that cannot be used is not an asset, but a symbol of neglect. The government must act swiftly to restore all non-functional ventilators and ensure that such lapses do not recur. Transparent timelines, district-wise disclosures, and strengthened technical support systems are essential. Public healthcare cannot afford complacency. In matters of life and breath, there is no room for delay. The people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve not just infrastructure on paper, but healthcare that works when it is needed most.