DH Ramban turns victim of Govt’s apathy

Tahir Mushtaq

Ramban, Jan 10: While the Government claims that it has streamlined the functioning of the hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir, yet the condition of the District Hospital (DH), Ramban is an example of apathetic attitude of the Government.

Due to lack of staff and modern equipments, the hospital remains non-functional, with end sufferer the patients.

According to official sources there are several posts of medical staff which are lying vacant due to which patients have to suffer. Beside this MBBS doctors are treating those patients which need specialist doctor, resulting into improper treatment.

Sources said the staff appointed there are less than the sanctioned posts. Besides this hilly district having maximum population in rural and hilly area lacks the required infrastructural facilities. This district Ramban has the population of about 3 lacs.

They said that there are two sanctioned post for B-Grade Anesthetic doctor, in which one doctor is attached in Karta hospital whereas other is on leave from long time, due to the unavailability of trained anesthetic the surgery in different departments includes Surgery, Gynaecology and Orthopedic is not possible and they referred the patients to other hospitals.

“However in the case of Radiology Department, there is no B-Grade Doctor specialist doctor while in surgery department the posts are lying vacant, due to which the assistant surgeon has to do the work of these doctors, putting the life of hundred patients on stake sources said adding that in Gynaecology department the only one doctor appointed who is also on leave for past long time whereas the health department has attached a doctor from Sub District Hospital Sundarbani in this department”.

“Adding to the woes of the patients some injections which are required in emergency and should available in the hospital include Tetanus, Dexamethasone and Voveran are unavailable in the hospital and patients are asked to purchase it from market” sources maintained. 

They further said that the Pediatric Department is also without specialist putting hundreds of child under constant threat daily. In Dental Section the machine lying non-functional for months, this also causes hardship among the people. Besides this there is no one appointed for blood bank due to which is it not working from the past seven years.

One could understand the plight of health institutions in the district, when even

adequate medical staff is not available in already deficient hospitals. Locals alleged that the doctor referred them at last time to Jammu or Srinagar as there is no proper infrastructure for operation and other things.

When contacted Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Ramban Mohammad Anwar Bhat said that the department has sent proposal to the higher authorities for the appointment of doctors in different departments in the hospital and it will be filled shortly adding that the blood bank will also get functional soon.