Transfer of Gynaecologist from Bandipora District Hospital leaves Women Patients in the Lurch

SUHAIL RATHER

Bandipora, November 25: Instead of ensuring basic healthcare and providing better facilities in Hospitals, the Health department has transferred the lone gynaecologist from the Bandipora District Hospital and forgot to provide a replacement.

        People of Bandipora are aghast over the  transfer of the doctor and not   posting a new gynaecologist in Bandipora hospital. The gynaecologist was transferred after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti cancelled all the attachments of doctors of Gurez valley who are posted in other districts.

        The residents demand immediate  posting of a new gynaecologist or the revocation of transfer order of the previous doctor so that the patients don’t suffer in absence of a Gynaecologist. Locals threatened to take to streets if a Gynaecologist was not made available to the hospital.

        Locals allege that after the transfer of lone female doctor of the Gynae department of the Bandipora hospital, the Gynaecology department has virtually been left defunct.

        Dr Masrat Iqbal, BMO Bandipora, told Kashmir convener that the doctor was transferred according to the government order vide No.629-HME of 2017 Dated: 20-11-2017 and no replacement has been send so far.

        Mumtaz Ahmad, a local said that the Bandipora hospital caters to people from different areas of Bandipora and Gurez and every day hundreds of patients visit there.

        President, Traders federation Bandipora, Shamshaad Ahmad and members of federation termed it as government’s apathy and request higher ups to revoke the order as soon as possible. He said the doctor was a living in vicinity and was available round the clock and if a non local doctor is posted in the hospital, she may not be available round the clock. He appealed Govt to revoke the order or prefer to send a local doctor to the hospital.

        A female patient Nighat Parveen said that Government should take notice of the matter and revoke the transfer order of the said female doctor without any further delay or provide a replacement at earliest.