This will prevent referrals to Srinagar hospitals says Director Health
By: Ahmad Shabir
Srinagar, May 15: To improve the healthcare in rural areas, Directorate of Health Services Kashmir has decided to provide round the clock facilities in five specialties at all district hospitals including newly constructed sub-district hospital Bijbehara.
The move, officials said , is aimed to meet the healthcare needs of rural population and to lessen the burden of already overcrowded major hospitals of Srinagar including Bone and Joint (B and J) hospital , SMHS and children hospital Srinagar and MCH Anantnag.
Officials said that the Director Health Services Kashmir , Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Rather has already framed a team of officers assigning them the job to collect details from chief medical officers regarding available and required staff strength and the equipment needed to ensure the hassle free round the clock services in these hospitals.
The committee, officials said, has almost finished its job and the process to start these round clock facilities at district hospitals has been initiated.
For instance, at least five Orthopaedicians were recently posted at DH Pulwama and the facility of ortho surgeries for emergency cases has already been started there.
Director Health Services Kashmir , Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Rather said that it is not only the district hospitals but some SDHs as well where the round the clock facility in five specialities will be started soon.
“The Commissioner Secretary has been all cooperative to improve rural healthcare.
Keeping these facilities available at district hospital and some SDHs will prevent the referrals to Srinagar hospitals and MCH Anantnag. We are in the process of identifying the specialist doctors to be posted in the hospitals and are also going to install all the equipment required for round the clock services,” the Director said.
He said that the facilities at the newly constructed building for SDH Bijbehara will also be made available at par with district hospitals.
“I can’t claim to convert it into a district hospital which will need administrative approval but i will ensure that the facilities there will be at par with other district hospitals,” the director said.
“For this purpose I will utilize the service of the staff of the Trauma hospital as well so that patients can get the best health care under one roof,” the director said.