Yasmeen Manzoor
Srinagar, June 04(KNB): With entire healthcare set-up engaged in fighting pandemic Covid-19, Non- Coronavirus patients are facing hardships as most Out Patients Department (OPDs) across the Kashmir valley have been closed, since the lockdown was imposed to curb the spread of deadly virus. The closure of OPD’s in various hospitals by the government to focus on Covid-19 patients has added to the pain of chronically-ill people.
Although there are no restrictions on health services by Union Ministry of Home Affairs and Union Ministry of Family welfare, the OPDs are closed in J&K since March 24 to combat the spread of pathogen, the closure of OPDs have been causing problems to non COVID patients with anxiety levels mounting for some about access to medical care for other ailments like fever, stomach ache, diabetes, heart problems, cancer and renal disease where patients need to access hospitals for their treatment.
Government-aided reproductive and child health and immunisation services have been severely impacted as children who are prone to diseases and Pregnant women who need to visit hospitals for regular checkups are facing hardships as unavailability of doctors, travel restrictions and lack of proper healthcare facilities have left them hopeless and anxious.
A patient namely Khushi of barely age 16 years suffering from stomach ache from more than a week had to struggle to get her treatment done at a hospital here, sharing their woes with Kashmir News Bureau her family said, “Our daughter starting vomiting from past 8 days, we visited a hospital here in Srinagar on our daily base and as OPDs are closed we face a huge hardships as neither our daughter got the proper treatment nor the doctors were ready to get her admitted.”
“They give us some painkillers and injections to control the vomiting as even her body is not absorbing water but we were not able to get her treatment by the specialist as only emergency services are open for non-covid patients where not only such patients got ignored but also huge rush of patients with different ailments can be seen which is also posing a threat of Covid-19.”
“It is hard and very painful to see non- Coronavirus patients suffering because of closure of OPD’s at several hospitals but at the same people should avoid visiting hospitals if the pain is tolerable as it could be very dangerous for the whole society,” a senior Doctor told News agency Kashmir News Bureau.
Pertinently, the Union health ministry has directed hospitals to treat non Covid-19-positive patients. (KNB)