“Health Directorate Kashmir Promoting Rot, District Hospitals In Shambles, Government Unmoved’
Malik Sajid
(“Any health care funding plan that is just, equitable, civilized and humane must – must – redistribute wealth from the richer among us to the poorer and the less fortunate. Excellent healthcare is by definition re-distributional”- DONALD BERWICK)
Health sector is termed as the lifeline for a nation’s welfare. Health is comprehensive term defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social well being and just not the absence of disease or ailment. Health is a primary human right and has been accorded due significance by the Constitution of our country through Article 21.
But in Kashmir thanks to inefficient Directorate Health the overall picture of health especially condition of District Hospitals present a bleak outlook. To add to the chaos, the favoritism, corrupt tactics via which Doctors manage to avoid rural postings, the Clerical mafia at Directorate Health ensures that our Public healthcare stands crippled.
Since decades many clerics, doctors due to influence are stranded at one place .
A visit to different District Hospitals by our team showed that every public healthcare Hospital currently presents a gloomy picture, as every major District hospital currently beset with various dark facets.
Importantly, there is huge rush of patients in the respective outpatient Department sections of the hospital. The doctor-patient ratio seems to be quiet outmatched on account of the tremendous burden of patients on a single medico. The cleanness is also not much impressive in any hospital. The drug availability is lackluster, lack of direction points even in city hospitals that could have directed patients and their attendants to their respective treatment centers also adds to the overall chaos.
On the otherhand, it cannot be denied that there is a dire shortage of nurses in our state, especially in the Valley of Kashmir and this has serious consequences on the provision of health services in our part of the world and Directorate has done nothing in this regard.
The Directorate of Health, Health Ministry seem to shift the blame game on vested political interest on this abject condition of our health sector.
Buzz word is Directorate Health has also failed to enthuse efficiency in the working of our health sector is the buzz word among professional voices and masses. Pertinently from Bandipora to Kulgam District Hospitals are in absolute ramshackle .
A health analyst, pleading anonymity stated – “ Directorate Health Services in Kashmir is a disaster . Due to poor functioning of Directorate of Health all the major to minor hospitals present horrible picture of inefficiency. Lack of drugs, very few doctors at rural hospitals, lack of drugs make our health sector weak. Even the patient attendants face lot of difficulties as the hospital lacks proper seating arrangements and there is also a dire need felt in terms of the available machinery.The misery is further compounded by the fact that almost all the district hospitals lag “lift system” and even in some of city hospitals lift system is out of order. We need a big overhaul in Directorate of Health Services to achieve efficiency.”
On the other hand of spectrum, the analysts and masses opine that present Director Saleem ur Rehman has failed in all senses to invoke any positivism in our ailing health sector and has in a way done nothing to break administrative and clerical lacunas.
While talking to The Kashmir Scenario, State Health Minister Asiya Naqash stated – “ Due to unrest since many months we have not been able to bring the desired changes. By November end you would see a sea of change especially those who have maintained to stay at their postings since decades will be transferred. We are looking to means to improve the overall functioning of Directorate Health.”
Lack of policy vision at Directorate Health and inefficiency of current Director Health are all the more ensuring that our health sector remains ill.
On his part, Director Health Saleem ur Rehman blames vested political influence for mess in health sector. “ We have to take into consideration the views, aspirations of local MLAs at every district inconsideration while carrying out transfers, postings and other mechanism. Take the case of Bandipora District Hospital there I have to frankly take in to consideration the views of local MLA. Things like these act as a big challenge to us.”
Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) , President, Dr Nisar ul Hassan, does not subscribe to this view . “ The Director Health has installed his favourite puppets and stooges everywere and all this is leading to a situation from wherein we can just envisage a distraught picture of our health sector. The same needs radical reforms if we espouse real betterment in health sector.”
In nutshell, the need for reforms at Directorate of Health is being felt direly.