GMC Handwara Associated Hospital without dialysis centre, people suffer

Kupwara, Oct 19: Lack of dialysis centre at Associated District Hospital Government Medical College (GMC) Handwara is giving tough to patients. The residents said that since this hospital caters the whole district but due to lack of a dialysis centre, patients were suffering and authorities were doing nothing in this regard.

“Since my father is suffering from kidney failure, I have to get his dialysis done every week by paying over Rs 2,000 at a private dialysis centre at Sopore. Had there been a government sponsored dialysis centre in Handwara, I would not have to pay the amount,” said a local.

“I am unable to figure out how a district hospital has been deprived of a dialysis centre. This tells about the callous attitude of authorities towards this health institution,” he added.

Former Block Development Council Chairman (BDC) Langate Showkat Hassan Pandit said that the patients with kidney failure were facing severe hardships due to lack of a dialysis centre at DH Handwara. He said that earlier officials at Associated District Hospital GMC Handwara would say that following shifting of hospital to new building, a dialysis centre would be set up but five years have passed since then, the hospital was yet to be shifted permanently to new building due to reasons best known to authorities.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Associated District Hospital GMC Handwara said that a dialysis centre already stands approved but due to lack of space, it has not been installed.

He said that soon after the hospital was shifted to new building permanently, a dialysis centre would be installed there.