Jahangeer Ganaie
Shopian, Nov 28 : Patients in Watchi hamlet of south Kashmir’s Shopian have expressed resentment against the health department for failing to deploy a doctor there for the last several months.
Residents told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the New Type Primary Health Centre (NTPHC) Watchi is run by two Multi-Purpose Health Workers, and authorities have failed to post a doctor there for three months now.
They said the sub-centre in the area was upgraded to NTPHC a few years before, and a new building was sanctioned, which was inaugurated in January 2020. However, the government has failed to post a permanent doctor here.
“Last year, after hectic efforts, a doctor was deployed there. However, with the cancelling of attachment orders of doctors and paramedical staff, all staff deployed here have joined duties at their original positions, leaving NTPHC staff less,” said Nisar Ahmad, a local resident.
Later, after repeated requests to the authorities, another doctor was posted here; however, he resigned from the job, leaving the health centre without any doctor again, he said.
Since then, only immunisation is now done at the hospital, and patients no more visit here where an average footfall was around 40 patients per day, Nisar added.
Locals said they are suffering in the absence of doctors and are forced to visit other hospitals, which takes a toll on time and money as well.
We have brought the issue to the notice of higher-ups several times but to no avail, as repeated assurances have proved a hoax on the ground, they said.
Residents have requested higher-ups to look into the matter at the earliest so that they can heave a sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, a health official told KNO that the doctor posted there has resigned recently, and his resignation has been forwarded to higher-ups. After the resignation is accepted, the government will post another doctor there, he said—(KNO)
