PHC Kalaroos in mess, Only dental doctor available

Sadaf Khursheed

KUPWARA: The Primary Health Center (PHC) of Kalaroos Kupwara which facilitates the medical aid to more than 25 thousand masses of the adjoining areas is defunct for the lack of doctors from last one month.

Initially four doctors in which two were permanent and two NRHM and the BMO were placed in the PHC but now there is only one dental surgeon who is looking after the needs of the patients.

“There is only doctor available at present in the Phc and that too a dental surgeon, how can a dental doctor treat the other ailments”, said a local Waseem Raja.

“The other doctors who are NHM doctors are on strike which is causing a lot of inconvenience to the people. BMO also has to look after the other hospitals that again cause problems, also that non availability of the doctors cause tribulation to the one doctor present at the Phc as he has to look after so many patients. We
time and again went to authorities to resolve our this issue however despite their assurances, nothing in this regard is being done”, he further added.

When contacted  CMO Kupwara Dr Prehlad Singh for the issue he didn’t answer anything but said that he is busy right now and the story can wait till tomorrow. However District Commissioner Kupwara Khalid Jahangir said that he has no information about the said issue and he will talk to the concerned authorities and try to resolve the issue.

“How can one doctor treat so many patients and that also when the doctor is a dentist. Its winter time and people are falling ill but for the lack of doctors at the Phc we sometimes have to go to Kupwara hospital which wastes our time and causes inconvenience”, said another local.

Despite repeated calls  BMO Dr Firdous Ahmad Bhat, was not available to talk on the issue.

Pertinently the statement of President DAK when he said that private hospitals are looting the patients and they don’t have good healthcare facilities available cannot be done away with as the government seems not in a mood to provide better facilities to the people. (KNB)