In a major relief to people in Kupwara district, the government has sanctioned construction of 520-beded hospital in Handwara town at a cost of Rs 50 crore.The existing hospital, built in 1984 is lacking space and facilities to accommodate the increasing rush of patients from the district.As per officials, it has been declared unsafe by the Public Works Department (PWD) in an assessment survey conducted recently.Officials said that Rs 50 crore has been sanctioned for the reconstruction of the hospital, with the building have modern health and diagnostic facilities.The new building will be 520 bedded having eight storeys and all the modern facilities for the patients and doctors.The officials said that out of the Rs 50 crore, Rs 10 crore has been released and work has been started for the new building.
Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Saleem Ur Rehman confirmed to KNS that the government has started working on the reconstruction of the hospital.He said that the new hospital will be have all the modern facilitates for the patients. The director said that the new hospital will have separate residential quarters for doctors .Residents in Handwara said that the hospital, which is officially a Community Health Centre (CHC) but named as District Hospital on sign board, is old and the centres are scattered in the premises which makes it difficult for patients to move from one centre to another.The residents said that at the 50 bedded health centre doctors are unable to do justice with the increasing number of patients and in absence of major testing facilities, patients are being referred to Srinagar and other hospitals of Baramulla and Sopore.The move to construct the new hospital has been taken by the government after the insistence of Social Welfare, Science and Technology minister and MLA Handwara Sajjad Lone. (KNS)