Women patients uneasy as J&K hospitals lack female ECG staff

Srinagar, Jul 13: The lack of female staff in Electrocardiogram (ECG) rooms across several government hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir has emerged as a significant concern, with women patients saying they often feel uncomfortable undergoing the diagnostic procedure in the presence of male technicians.
Many women and their attendants said that the absence of female technicians not only causes embarrassment but also discourages some patients from undergoing the test promptly, potentially delaying diagnosis and treatment of serious heart-related conditions.
Rukhsana Bano, a patient who recently visited a district hospital in south Kashmir, said she postponed her ECG for several hours after learning that only a male technician was available.
“I was advised to undergo an ECG immediately, but I felt extremely uncomfortable when I found that only a male technician was present. I waited for hours, hoping a female staff member would become available, but there was none. Such situations create unnecessary stress for women patients and can even delay treatment,” she said.
A woman from north Kashmir narrated a similar experience, saying that the procedure requires exposure of the chest area, making many women hesitant when no female staff member is available.
“Many women feel embarrassed during the test. Some even choose to skip the ECG despite medical advice because there is no female technician. The government should ensure that female staff are posted in ECG rooms for women patients,” she said.
Medical professionals acknowledged that patient comfort and privacy are crucial components of quality healthcare. A senior physician, requesting anonymity, said an ECG is often the first and most important investigation in diagnosing cardiac emergencies.
“An ECG is a simple, quick and frequently life-saving diagnostic test. If patients delay or refuse the procedure because they are uncomfortable, it can adversely affect timely diagnosis and treatment. Ensuring the availability of trained female staff would improve patient confidence and healthcare outcomes,” the doctor said.
Health experts believe the issue can be addressed through a simple administrative measure by ensuring that every hospital has at least one trained female technician or healthcare worker available to assist women patients during ECG examinations.
They expressed hope that Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo, being a woman herself, would appreciate the sensitivity of the issue and take appropriate steps to address it.
Patients and attendants have appealed to the Health and Medical Education Department to formulate a policy ensuring the availability of female staff in ECG rooms across all district hospitals, sub-district hospitals and other healthcare institutions.
“Female staff are routinely deployed in departments where women’s privacy is a priority. A similar arrangement should be made in ECG rooms as well. It is not only about convenience but also about preserving the dignity, privacy and comfort of women patients,” said Haseena, an attendant at a hospital in Pulwama.
The patients have urged Health Minister Sakeena Itoo to intervene and issue necessary directions so that trained female staff are made available in ECG rooms, enabling women across Jammu and Kashmir to access essential diagnostic services without hesitation or discomfort. (KNO)