The foundation stone for the New Type Primary Health Centre (NTPHC) at Nowpora, Wagoora in Baramulla district was laid in 2005 by late Dr Ghulam Nabi Lone, a minister in Mufti Muhammad Sayeed-led government.
After his killing, it was named after him as Dr Ghulam Nabi Lone Hospital. It hardly qualifies for the ‘hospital’ tag.
Many of its window panes are broken, the entry gate is rusting and the partly-finished fencing wall is crumbling. It faces shortage of doctors, medicines and beds.
“Had Lone sahib been alive this hospital would have been a different story,” said Shabir Ahmad, a local resident.
“We have no other option than to go to sub-district hospital Kreeri or Baramulla hospital for consultation. What was the need for building this good-for-nothing building?” he said.
A gynecologist who used to visit regularly has stopped coming for the past few years, local residents said.
Kreeri block medical officer Dr Javid Iqbal Lone told Greater Kashmir many posts of doctors for Kreeri block are vacant. The authorities concerned have already been informed, he said.
“I have informed MLA about the fencing wall,” he said.