8 months after appointment, medical staff yet to join Chuntimulla heath centre

Sajid Raina
Bandipora, Jan 7: Even after eight months Medical staff including a doctor posted in the Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Chuntimulla a remote area in Bandipora district, the staff has still have not joined their duties, causing immense inconvenience to the patients.
It is the only health centre for ten villages including Kudara, Srinder, Sumlar which together have a population of more than 18,000 inhabitants.
The BMO Bandipora, Dr Masrat Iqbal had last month issued a formal order in which the Medical staff including a doctor were asked to join back their original place of posting in Chuntimulla hospital but no staff has joined the hospital to perform their duty.
Sources said the staff was earlier attached for COVID-19 duty in the district headquarter. However, later they were detached from COVID-19 duties and were asked to join back their original place of posting.
The locals said that the PHC is being run by three Female Multipurpose Health Worker (FMPHW) staff putting the lives of patients at risk for the last eight months.
The residents have to travel to Bandipora or Srinagar even for minor ailments.
“A few days ago my mother was sick. I took her to the same hospital but there was no doctor. Then we came back home and she was in pain all night,” Ishtiyaq Ahmad, a 22-year-old resident said.
“We are not getting any benefit from this hospital. Why did the government spend so much money and build this hospital without doctors. Why administration is not transferring any other medical staff here,” the local said.
The locals said the expecting mothers face immense inconvenience due to dearth of doctors particularly a specialist gynaecologist.
The villagers made a fervent appeal to the District Development Commissioner (DDC), Bandipora and Director Health Service to intervene and provide necessary medical staff and proper medical facilities in the PHC. (KNO)