With only 3 per cent of the sanctioned staff, the Sub-District Hospital Chanapora here in Srinagar city is struggling to provide proper medical care. The lack of requisite infrastructure is compounding problems of the hospital as well as of patients. The construction work took four years and the hospital was made functional in 2011 but without any staff and facilities. The locals told news agency CNS that two lady doctors and a male doctor earlier posted at Primary Health Centre Chanapora were deputed in the hospital. “At the emergency wards of the hospital, most patients are sharing beds. They complain not enough care is being provided to them.”Locals alleged that it is the hospital on papers only while no medical treatment is provided to the patients. Admitting that hospital lacks staff and facilities, medicos said that they have an acute shortage of doctors, staff nurses and paramedical staff at the hospital.
The quality of patient care is definitely suffering.“We are managing things in a very difficult situation. This hospital is 50-bedded, but there is 140% to 150% occupancy.”The doctors maintain the hospital is finding it very difficult to provide best service to people. “There is a huge rush of patients every day and there is not enough staff,” said a doctor at the hospital. “It is not possible for us to manage everything. When contacted Director Health Services Dr Salim-ur-Rehman said that though government has made the hospital functional but on records it is not a sub district hospital. “Let the government recognize it SD hospital, we will provide the required facilities and staff there,” he said. (CNS)