Idrees Ahmad Dar, 40, from Anantnag is bedridden for last three years, suffering from kidney, bladder and urinary tract disorders. The doctors have suggested him to undergo three surgeries – nephrectomy, urethroplasty and kidney transplant.
He lives in a rented accommodation in Bakshiabad locality ofthe town along with his wife, 2 year old daughter and elder brother.
“We somehow managed to arrange money and were planning to gofor surgery early this month. But to our ill-luck all planned surgeries havebeen deferred due to Covid19 pandemic,” says Ata Muhamad, who will be donatinghis kidney to the younger brother.
He says his brother’s condition is deteriorating day by day.
The only source of income for the family is the meagersalary Ata draws as a salesman at a local shop.
Idrees is on dialysis and other medications for the lastthree years which has consumed all the resources of the family.
Like Dar, there are other such patients suffering fromlife-threatening diseases who were allotted dates for surgeries in the tertiarycare hospitals of Kashmir but are now left in lurch.
Ishfaq Ahmad of a remote Shopian village says, “My agedfather is suffering from gastric cancer and was asked to get admitted to SMHSfor surgery this week. But now I am being told that all the surgeries have beensuspended.”
He said that his the economic condition does not allow himto go for surgery in a private hospital.
A senior doctor working in SMHS suggested that electivesurgeries – colostomy; hemorrhoid; hernia, piles, gynae and other surgeriesshould continue as usual.
“We cannot afford to even deny chemo and radiotherapy to themalignancy patients,” he said.
Another doctor said only COVID19 designated hospitals likeSKIMS Bemina, JLNM, CD hospital and the ones in north and south should dealwith the infected or suspected patients.
“The other tertiary care hospitals, district, sub district hospitalsand maternity, child care hospitals should function as routine,” the doctorsaid.
He added that some hotels and government buildings shouldexclusively function as COVID19 hospitals for now.
Medical superintendent of valley’s largest private-run hospital,Khyber Institute of Medical Science, Dr Showkat Shah said their hospital isflooded with patients.
“Patients who otherwise would prefer SKIMS and SMHS now cometo us,” he said.
He said though the two institutes are treating surgicalemergencies for now but patients are not ready to go there as they apprehendgetting in contact with COVID19 patients or their contacts.
Director SKIMS, Dr. AG Ahangar, however says the instituteis dealing with all emergency cases.
“Our doctors are in contact with emergency patientsincluding cancer and tumour cases and are taking the cases on a prioritybasis,” he said.
Dr. Ahangar said none of their patients has gone to aprivate hospital.
However, he admitted, the elective surgeries had to be puton hold due to the pandemic.