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Anantnag without district hospital: Calls grow to repurpose defunct Trauma Hospital in Bijbehara

One such proposed solution is the repurposing of the defunct Trauma Hospital in Bijbehara, situated along the old National Highway
01:05 AM Jan 22, 2025 IST | Khalid Gul
anantnag without district hospital  calls grow to repurpose defunct trauma hospital in bijbehara
Anantnag without district hospital: Calls grow to repurpose defunct Trauma Hospital in Bijbehara
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Anantnag, Jan 21: In 2019, the District Hospital in the Janglatmandi area of Anantnag was elevated to a Government Medical College (GMC) along with its assets and staff.

Since then, the district has been left without a fully functioning district hospital, prompting growing calls for an alternative solution.  One such proposed solution is the repurposing of the defunct Trauma Hospital in Bijbehara, situated along the old National Highway.

This facility, envisioned as part of a larger initiative to reduce accident-related deaths on highways, has been lying defunct for over four years after its brief use as a quarantine center during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The hospital’s foundation stone was laid in 2013 by Omar Abdullah during his first stint as Chief Minister. Despite an expenditure of over  Rs 13 crore, the hospital project lingered for years before it was finally completed and hastily put to use during the pandemic.

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Once the pandemic subsided, the facility was abandoned and now caters only to tuberculosis patients referred from the nearby Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Bijbehara.

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Residents of Bijbehara are aghast over the underutilization of the Trauma Hospital, particularly when the SDH Bijbehara is grappling with space shortages and certain facilities are operating from unsafe, dilapidated buildings.

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“It is a pity that such a huge facility is lying defunct while our Sub-District Hospital is struggling. The government should transfer some of the SDH facilities to the Trauma Hospital and later upgrade it to a district hospital,” said Zulfi Masood, a local from Bijbehara town.

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A health official pointed out that with the upgraded NH-44 bypassing the town, the Trauma Hospital’s original purpose has become obsolete, making its repurposing logical to address the region’s healthcare needs.

“ The trauma hospital will need specialized traumatologists – where will you get them when you already have very few in J&K,” he said.

The absence of a district hospital has also placed significant strain on GMC Anantnag, which is overburdened with patients from South Kashmir and even the Chenab Valley. “If we had a district hospital, GMC and its associated facilities, like the Maternity and Child Care Hospital, could function more efficiently," said Rao Farman, a social activist from Anantnag.

The Medical Superintendent (MS) of SDH Bijbehara, Dr Mushtaq said that a portion of the SDH is already functioning from the Trauma Hospital.

“Currently, out of 28 sanctioned posts, only nine positions, including five doctors, have been filled at the facility,” he said.

A health official, however, said that additional posts need to be sanctioned and critical infrastructure, including machinery, must be upgraded before the Trauma Hospital can be operational as a full-fledged district hospital. “These decisions are made at the directorate level. We have raised the issue and are awaiting a response,” the official said.