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A dream hospital

It’s everyone’s dream to have a healthcare system that matches global standards
11:04 PM Jan 23, 2025 IST | Guest Contributor
a dream hospital
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Recently, I went to SMHS Hospital in Srinagar. Being alone, feeling unwell, and no one to assist (as attendant). I anticipated the typical difficulties—confusion at the entrance, long lines, and the challenge of finding my way. However, to my surprise, everything was quite the opposite. The moment I entered the hospital, a staff member approached me with a friendly smile. He offered me a seat and inquired about my health.  Without wasting time, I was taken straight to the doctor’s chamber, there was no chaos. The doctor, composed and compassionate, listened attentively and soon after described my diagnosis in straightforward language. There was no sense of urgency, no quick dismissals—just attentive, focused care.

After that, I was escorted to the diagnostic section for some tests. I didn’t need to inquire about directions or endure long waits. A nurse was with me, making sure each test was completed without any issues. In a healthcare facility like Hedwun ( SMHS), handling over 3,000 patients daily, I was impressed by the staff’s calmness and efficiency. As I awaited for the results, a staff member offered me fresh drinking water and even a hot meal. It felt almost surreal—an experience I had never experienced in any healthcare institutions, private or public.

Once the tests were completed, I was taken-in for additional treatment to ward no. 5. The room was immaculate, featuring fresh bedding and consistent monitoring by the nurses. As prescribed by doctor, all medication was given punctually, the meals along with medicines provided were healthy, and the cheerful staff checked on me regularly. Even though I was completely on my own, I felt supported at every moment. After two days of care, the doctor recommend my discharge from the hospital. As I made my way to the billing counter, I pondered the cost of such exceptional care? When they presented me with the bill, I was astonished—it was only INR 130. I thanked Almighty, the staff of the hospital, and our CM-Omar for providing such healthcare facilities to the people of Kashmir.

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I exited the hospital with a sense of not only recovery but also a profound impression of the compassion and effectiveness I had experienced. For once, it seemed as if the ideal accessible and empathetic healthcare had been fulfilled.

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Out of the hospital, in the parking area, I again thanked every one including CM-Omar, for ensuring his government’s efforts in establishing such a healthcare facility. Inside my car, I called my father and wife and described everything that happened since two days. They were happy. Wife said, hurry up and reach home, drive carefully, as she has prepared my favourite meal- Daalcha.

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I pulled up the car gear for a journey towards home, as I reached the main gate of the hospital, I steered towards left and a speedy car coming from the opposite direction banged my car. A loud crash happened. “Ya Allah Reham” were the words out of my mouth. Little unconscious for a minute I got half senses back and I found myself besides Adnan - my son at home, sleeping. Huh, then I realized it was only a dream, a sweat all along but bitter in the end.

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I cried, my wife and other son Osman also woke up to my cries. They came, consoled me till I was in full senses. I narrated the dream to my wife. After, I fully woke up from that beautiful dream, I drenched into reality. It wasn’t long before I realized how far my dream was from what truly happens at Hedwun Hospital in Srinagar.

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The truth is, Hedwun hospital is a lifeline for the people of Kashmir, but it struggles under the immense weight of its responsibilities. With over 1 lakh outpatient visits and more than this number of inpatient cases annually, the hospital operates beyond its capacity every single day. Its corridors are packed with patients, many of them elderly, illiterate, and terrified, unsure of where to go or whom to ask for help.

For those unfamiliar with the hospital’s layout, even finding the right department can be a daunting task. Signs are unclear or written in languages not everyone can read, and overburdened staff have little time to offer directions. Patients often roam in confusion, their anxiety worsening as precious time slips away.

The diagnostic sections—though equipped with advanced facilities like MRI and CT scanners—are overwhelmed. Daily, nearly hundreds of MRIs and CT scans, ultrasounds, X-rays, and other serological tests are performed, but the demand far exceeds the capacity. Waiting times stretch into hours, even days, and some patients, unable to afford private diagnostics, are forced to endure the wait despite their suffering.

Inside the wards, resources are stretched thin. Beds are scarce, and often, two patients must share one. Cleanliness is a constant challenge, especially with over 10,000 people—including patients, attendants, and visitors—passing through the hospital daily. The medical staff, though dedicated, are pushed to their limits, juggling far too many patients to provide personalized care.

For someone without an attendant, navigating the hospital feels impossible. There’s no one to bring water or food; many patients go hungry or depend on the kindness of strangers. The billing counters often add to the ordeal—long queues and unexpected expenses leave patients financially and emotionally drained.

A bill of just 130 rupees? That’s wishful thinking. In reality, costs for diagnostics and medication can run into thousands, and for families living hand-to-mouth, the burden is unbearable.

This is the harsh truth of SMHS Hospital: an institution brimming with potential but struggling under the weight of systemic inefficiencies, resource shortages, and the sheer volume of patients. It’s a place where miracles happen daily, thanks to the dedication of doctors and nurses, but it’s also a place where dreams like mine seem far fetched.

Let this contrast between the dream and the reality serve as a call to action. A call for better funding, streamlined processes, greater empathy, and a healthcare system that doesn’t just heal but also uplifts. Because while dreams inspire, it’s the reality that demands our attention and effort.

I wish, our dynamic CM-Omar in his second term as head of government, initiates the process for building at least two more hospitals in south and north Kashmir like that of SMHS.  By doing so, a huge burden on Hedwun hospital Srinagar will get reduced and may be my dream and dream of every citizen comes true.