SUHAIL RATHER
Bandipora, 31 July: A large number of patients suffering from various ailments are forced to visit private clinics in Srinagar for treatment as the hospital is without several specialists and surgeons forcing the doctors to shift the patients to state hospitals in Srinagar.
In absence of an orthopedist, a large number of patients are forced to visit private clinics in Srinagar or Sopore for treatment, even in case of minor accidents. “Patients are simply referred to Bone and joint hospital Barzulla Srinagar where they are humiliated for travelling a long distance for even minor injuries,” said Irfan Ali ,a resident of Bandipora while sharing his own experience.
The dearth of doctors has turned the district hospital into a first aid centre as patients only receive first aid and then referred to Srinagar for treatment.
“My mother slipped at home and suffered minor injury and as a precautionary measure, we wanted to see an orthopedist in DH Bandipora, but to my surprise I was told there is no orthopedist in the hospital since long. I was forced to rush Srinagar for treatment,” said Ali Mohammad, a resident of Nadihal Bandipora.
Shortage of doctors is not the only issue, the hospital also lacks the basic infrastructure as the hospitals runs from an erstwhile building if sub-district hospital. The administration failed to complete the new district hospital complex even after one decade.
Another local Saif Mudasir Mir said he took his mother to dental section for root canal treatment of her tooth but he was shocked to see the doctor using light of their cellphones while treating the patient in absence of proper illumination. “Moreover one finds medical representatives more than the staff of DH Bandipora who are always hovering there. In addition to this, the injection section is full of voluntaries where the female patients find it difficult to enter,” he added.
