Out of the 68 drugs it’s supposed to have for free distribution to poor patients, the sub-district hospital of Kupwara has only 28 available, forcing many to buy the expensive medicines from private medical shops.
An official in the hospital said that even bandages,drip-sets, angiocath, cotton, injections, and many other things which should beavailable in bulk in the hospital were not available.
Rafiq Ahmad, an attendant of a patient in the hospital toldGreater Kashmir that he was shocked hear that only IV fluid was available andhe had to buy the required injections and drip-set from the market.
“There is no medicine available in this hospital, I have topurchase engiocath, drip-set and paracetamol injecton from the market,” Ahmadsaid.
Residents allege that Kupwara district was facing its worststate of its healthcare sector with shortage of doctors, specialists,unhygienic condition of the hospital building.
They say the district hospital has become a referral systemfor gynecological patients.
“The officials are visiting this hospital continuously butof no use, as there is no improvement in the service,” said a resident fromamong a group, everyone nodding in approval.
An official at the hospital said that a month’s stocks itreceived was exhausted in a fortnight which hits healthcare during the waitingperiod for fresh stocks.
He said the sub-district hospital treats a heavy patientload from numerous villages as the main district hospital, but it is suppliedthe same quantum of supplies as any other SHD.
“This hospital is working as more than a district hospitalbut getting supply of equal to public health centre,” the official said.
“We cannot procure the medicine from the market, we have toget the medicine from the JKMSCL and there is always delay by them leaving thepatients in trouble,” a hospital official said.