Umaisar Gull Ganie
Qazigund, Sep 29: The emergency hospital in Qazigund area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam has failed to serve its purpose as the facilities available in the hospital are no better than a Primary Health Centre (PHC).
The trauma hospital was built at a cost of Rs 13 crore at the Srinagar-Jammu Highway. The foundation stone was laid by senior National Conference (NC) leader and then Health Minister, Dr Mustafa Kamal in 1997. The hospital finally became functional in 2010.
“The hospital has failed to serve its purpose as there is no facility of CT scan, MRI, Ultrasonography, Otoscopy and others,” General Secretary Qazigund Development Organization, Muzafar Ahmad Wani said.
Wani said emergency patients brought to the hospital continue to be referred to district hospital Anantnag or Srinagar hospital.
“During emergencies, most of the patients are referred to Srinagar but many don’t have money or resources to travel to hospitals or afford private care,” he said.
A medico working in the hospital admitted that in the absence of the requisite facilities they often refer the patients to the Anantnag and Srinagar hospitals. “The USG machine has also been lying inoperative due to a technical snag.”
Medical Superintendent (MS), Emergency Hospital, Qazigund, Dr Shugufta Salam told KNO that it is true that there is no facility of the machines in the hospital.
“Many facilities have been added in the hospital. We have already sent requisition letter regarding the procurement of machines to the higher-ups. Hopefully the machines will be installed in the hospital soon,” she said.
