Bandipora Admin to investigate whether District Hospital’s referrals are medical or just a routine excuse

Suhail Rather

Bandipora, Feb 28: Bandipora Administration has launched an inquiry into allegations of an unnecessary referral of a pregnant woman from District Hospital Bandipora to LD Hospital Srinagar, following a formal complaint by her family.

The inquiry was initiated after Umar Akbar Khan, a resident of Kaloosa Bandipora, alleged that his sister, who was scheduled for a C-section, was referred to Srinagar at about 3:30 AM on Wednesday despite their repeated requests to conduct the surgery in Bandipora.

He alleged that despite repeated requests the doctors refused to treat patient in Hospital and forced referral to LD Hospital in Srinagar and caused distress, as the patient had to endure a nine-hour wait before undergoing surgery at LD Hospital. “Due to this forced referral we had to travel to Srinagar in an emergency condition reaching LD Hospital at 6:00 AM. Shockingly she was made to wait for 9 hours before undergoing surgery at 3:00 PM,” he told Deputy Commissioner in the written complaint.

He said if the case was truly an emergency, why did LD Hospital delay the surgery for 9 hours? “ If the doctors at LD Hospital could wait for 9 hours, why were the doctors at Bandipora hospital in such a hurry to refer her? Is Bandipora hospital incapable of handling such cases or is this an unjustified referral practice?” patients brother raised the questions in the complaint.

“In Bandipora Doctors said patient can’t wait for too long and hence referred to Srinagar while at LD Hospital, doctors said there is nothing adverse and waited for 9 hours,” patients brother told Deputy Commissioner in a written application.

Taking cognizance of the matter, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bandipora directed the Medical Superintendent of District Hospital Bandipora to submit a detailed factual report on the case.

According to an official order issued under No: CMOB/Estt/2024-25/2244-46, the hospital administration has been asked to provide a full account of the medical interventions given to the patient during her stay, along with an explanation from the concerned gynaecologist and the attending doctor.

CMO Bandipora Dr Rafi Ahmad Salathi while ordering the probe into the incident has directed the Medical Superintendent of DH Bandipora to seek a comprehensive report from the concerned Gynaecologist and the attending doctor who examined the patient at that time, including details of the medical examination conducted, findings, diagnosis, and any treatment administered. “The detailed report along with relevant documents may be submitted to this office within five days positively for onward submission to Worthy Deputy Commissioner Bandipora,” reads the order.

He said the inquiry aims to ascertain whether the referral was medically justified or part of an emerging pattern of unnecessary patient transfers.

The hospital has been given five days to submit its findings to the district administration.

The complainant also raised broader concerns over what he described as a “systematic failure” of Bandipora Hospital, alleging that frequent unnecessary referrals were causing immense hardship to patients.

He has sought accountability from the medical staff involved and urged the authorities to ensure that the hospital provides adequate maternal care. Health authorities have assured a thorough investigation, stating that necessary action will be taken based on the inquiry findings.