Grounded ambulance services at NTPHC Monbal hit patient care

Kupwara, Feb 26: Lack of an ambulance at New Type Primary Health Centre (NTPHC) Monbal in Haril area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district has been giving a tough time to the residents of over 2 dozen villages.

The residents said that following the transfer of the ambulance driver a year ago, his replacement was yet to be made with the result the ambulance was non-functional.

“Whenever there arises any medical emergency we are supposed to book a private cab to reach NTPHC Qalamabad or GMC Handwara for treatment. The residents of several upper reaches and remote villages including Lahikote, Changdi, Monbal, Bandi, Malikpora, Utroosa, Kelshan, Londa, Haril, Jahama, Sheikhpora and other villages suffer due to lack of an ambulance at NTPHC Monbal,” said a local.

Residents also complained that the hospital, which had been established two decades ago, never witnessed proper facilities resulting in hardships to patients. “We belong to a heavy snow-bound area and due to accumulation of several feet of snow and lack of specialist doctors at NTPHC Monbal we are forced to carry our patients on makeshift cot by walking several kilometer to reach Haril, where if available we board passenger vehicle to reach Qalamabad or Handwara hospital for treatment”, said another local.

“Only an ISM doctor with few other staff members has been deputed here since very long which affects the smooth functioning of the hospital,” he added.

Residents said that although they have been pressing for many years for specialised doctors including gynecologist but to no avail. “We did request authorities several times to make this hospital functional round the clock but every time our request fell on deaf ears” they added.

Residents have requested concerned authorities and LG Manoj Sinha to look into the matter personally and redress their grievances, so that people may feel a sigh of relief.