Kokernag: Non-functional Diagonastic equipments hit patient care at PHC Sagam

Sameer Ahmad

Anantnag (Kokernag): Non functional Diagonastic equipments in hit the patient care at Sagam Kokernag area, as the Diagnostic equipments installed in the hospital are non functional from the last sixes months, forcing patients to visit the private labs in Anantnag town.

Talking to Arising State, sources said that the diagonastic equipments including the USG and X-ray are non functional from the last six months forcing the patients to visit the private diagonastic labs in Anantnag town.

At the PHC, an associated hospital of GMC Anantnag, USG and X-ray machines were installed two years back, but stand locked & useless for the last six months, leaving the patients dismayed.

Residents of the adjoining villages talking to Arising State said that, “we were forcing to visit the private Diagonastic labs in Anantnag town due to non functional USG and X-ray, with patients of more than a dozen villages are bearing the brunt of defunct machineries at the said Primary Health Centre.”

They said that the health facility caters to the people of more than a dozen villages who have been hit by the non functional of these machineries.

“The PHC lacks the radiologist technicians. The hospital should run 24/7. Our patients are suffering. We appealed to higher ups many times to provide technical staff for diagnostic lab but nothing has been done so far,” residents alleged.

“The health department has failed to provide specialist doctors despite making several requests in the past. In the absence of medical specialists most patients who require special treatment are referred either to Anantnag GMC or Srinagar hospitals,” they added.

Official Sources told to Arising State that there is no specialist doctor in the PHC hospital except a single Dental doctor, the hospital lacks the basic facilities as well as is grappling with a severe staff shortage, hampering its day-to-day work.

Meanwhile, talking to Arising State, SDM kokernag Suhail Ahmad said that, “I have inspected the PHC few days ago and found that the USG and X-ray rooms were locked. I spoke to the concerned officials and action will be taken”. The SDM also directed concerned officers/officials to be punctual and to keep hospital as well as premises of hospital neat and clean.

Principal GMC Anantnag while talking to the Arising State said that, “we have dearth of technical staff which hits the patients care at PHCs. We have already conveyed to higher authorities and hopefully within one month the problem will be solved”.