The district hospital Bandipora is yet to install a dialysis machine even as the funds for it have been sanctioned a month ago.
According to details available with Greater Kashmir, Rs 20 lakh were sanctioned a month ago under the CDF for installation of a dialysis machine at DH Bandipora.
An official said there are around 17 registered dialysis patients in block Bandipora who are destitute and downtrodden. “Most of them have to have dialysis twice a week and they being destitute cannot afford it at private centres at Sopore or Srinagar,” he said.
Given the condition of these destitute patients, he said, the PDP leader and MLC Nayeem Akhter had sanctioned Rs 15 lakh for installation of the dialysis machine in the hospital. “He later enhanced the amount to Rs 20 lakh on the CMO Bandipora’s recommendation.”
Sources said the delay in the installation of dialysis machine has been caused allegedly by the BMO concerned “as he is not willing to install the machine in the hospital for some political reasons.”
Due to the unavailability of dialysis machine at DH Bandipora, the patients are suffering badly. “I have to undergo dialysis twice a week as I am suffering from a kidney ailment. But I have travel 40 kilometers from Bandipora to Sopore for it,” said Naseer Ahmad of Nathpora village.
He said he could not afford to travel to Sopore on a frequent basis “as I am very poor, but I am compelled to do so due to unavailability of the machine here.”
According to sources, subsequent to the grant of the amount from the CDF, sanction was accorded for the installation of automatic biochemistry analyzer/LED binocular microscope at DH Bandipora at an estimated cost of Rs 12 lakh. Official sources said despite having a qualified doctor and technician at the hospital, the machine has not been installed as yet.
CMO Bandipora Dr Bilquees said they have done all the formalities for the installation of dialysis machine at DH Bandipora after Nayeem Akhter released the funds from his CDF but the BMO Bandipora is not giving requisition for the machine.
“I have been repeatedly giving him (BMO) reminders to send the requisition but he is not paying any heed. We have many dialysis patients here who have to go to Srinagar or Sopore for dialysis due to unavailability of the dialysis machine here,” she said.
BMO Bandipora, Dr Syed Rehman said there is no space available in the hospital “where we can install the dialysis machine.”