Hospitals in Kashmir have been ordered by health department to stock up essential medicines and supplies immediately, in addition of deputing adequate staff for emergencies ‘in view of the prevailing situation.’
On Saturday, directorate of health services Kashmir issued an order calling for immediate action from chief medical officers (CMO) to stock essential hospital supplies. Citing “prevailing situation” as the reason for issuing the order, director Health Services Dr Kunzes Dolma has impressed upon the CMOs to collect supplies of drugs, medicines, surgical disposables and other necessary items for hospitals in their respective districts “just tomorrow,” that is Sunday.
In this regard, drug warehouse of JK Medical Supplies Corporation, located in Bemina, has also been ordered to remain open on Sunday to facilitate supply of these items to hospitals across Kashmir “in interest of patient care”.
Dr Dolma said the order has been issued due to “tense situation” in Kashmir. “We have reports of our ambulances and staff coming under hostile and difficult situations,” she said adding that the department was the “first respondent” in any untoward situation in Kashmir. “It is important for us to remain prepared,” she said.
In tertiary care hospitals associated with Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, administrators have been “verbally directed” to prepare for “any untoward situation”. A medical superintendent of a GMC associated hospitals said that all hospitals were asked to actively stock up supplies on Saturday by the GMC administration.
“We have stored adequate stock of essential drugs and medicines, oxygen, surgical supplies and other items in view of speculations about the situation,” he said.
Principal GMC Srinagar, DrSamia Rashid said that “based on brewing situation” the hospitals have been asked to remain vigilant. “We have adequate staff in place to deal with any emergency and we are working on strengthening it further,” she said.
An official in health department said the hospitals were also preparing “special roasters” to handle emergencies. “Since all leaves have already been cancelled, and all the staff that was away will join on Monday, we will have a meeting of officials to prepare roasters from every department,” the official said.
At Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura “preparations were being finalized for any emergency situation”. Director SKIMS, Dr Omar Javed Shah said that the Institute had a “contingency team” to respond to disasters of any kind. “We are on alert mode,” he said.
A healthcare official said that Kashmir’s health department had “borne the brunt” of volatile situations in past and their preparedness had helped save lives. “This time around, when Kashmir is seething with tension, added measures are being put in place to improve delivery of emergency care,” he said.
A similar order has also been issued by director health services Jammu directing all medical superintendents and chief medical officers to ensure availability of medicines/drugs, dressing, consumables, etc. “to meet any eventuality/emergency” for a “minimum period of two months or so.”
Meanwhile, medical college exams are slated to be postponed and students living in hostels are also being sent back. In this regard, a meeting was convened at GMC Srinagar today. An official who was part of the meeting said that medical college administration was directed to ensure that students vacate the hostels immediately. “All exams of MBBS will also be postponed,” he said.