The non-availability of paramedical staff is affecting the patient care at trauma hospital Kangan in Ganderbal district
Sources said at least 36 posts in paramedical as well as technical cadre at the hospital are vacant, though it receives huge number of patients from different villages daily.
According to the hospital sources, nearly 200-300 patients visit the out-patient department (OPD) of the hospital daily. Besides, there are referrals from the primary and community health centres from the surrounding villages. “Due to the limited nursing staff the patients suffer immensely,” they said.
Among the vacant positions, sources said, are those of junior nurses, junior laboratory technicians, junior pharmacists, senior x-ray technicians, junior theatre technicians, and nursing orderlies.
Locals said though the hospital was constructed with an aim to provide best medicare to the people, “it does not serve that purpose”.
“The patients here have to wait for a long time to see a doctor in the OPD,” Abdul Hamid, a patient at the hospital said.
Sources said in the post-operative ward only a couple of nurses remain available for the patients, while in the emergency ward only a single pharmacist is available.
Meanwhile, members of local Auqaaf, traders’ union and civil society Kangan met the local administration here raising the issues with regard to the hospital.
The meeting, which was chaired by sub divisional magistrate Kangan, Mehraj Ahmed Shah, was attended by CMO Ganderbal and medical superintendent trauma hospital Kangan and other officials.
The medical superintendent Dr Yasmeen Kangoo admitted that there was shortage of manpower particularly the paramedical staff. “The issue has been taken up with the higher authorities,” he said.
CMO Ganderbal Dr Roshan Din Kasana confirmed that there are about 36 posts of paramedical staff lying vacant, besides 6 posts of consultants, in the hospital.
He said they were hopeful that in near future the vacancies will be filled up.