Health Minister announces DH Kulgam’s affiliation with GMC Anantnag

Kulgam, Mar 18: Health and Medical Education Minister Sakeena Masood Itoo on Tuesday announced the affiliation of District Hospital (DH) Kulgam with Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag. “The district hospital of Kulgam will soon be an associated hospital of GMC Anantnag,” Itoo said. She was addressing a gathering at DH Pora to mark the 31st death anniversary of her father, Wali Muhammad Itoo.

The minister had previously made this announcement during the ongoing assembly session following persistent representations from Member of Legislative Assembly for Kulgam and CPI (M) leader M. Y. Tarigami, along with NC Kulgam in-charge and party spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar. Greater Kashmir has repeatedly carried stories on the ailing health care of the hospital.

Despite catering a population of approximately 4.5 lakh, DH Kulgam suffers from severe manpower shortages and lacks essential medical facilities.

Itoo hoped that the affiliation would facilitate the availability of specialty and super-specialty services. “Upgrading this hospital is crucial for improving healthcare accessibility for the people of the district,” she said. Although Kulgam hospital was officially upgraded to a district hospital in 2007, it continues to function with the staff and resources of a sub-district hospital. Only its designation changed from Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Kulgam to District Hospital (DH) Kulgam, while staffing remained stagnant. People of the district have welcomed the move. “ We express gratitude to the Health Minister and for providing much needed relief to Kulgam,” said Khurshid Ahmad of DH Pora.