Health Minister raises concern over MCCH Anantnag’s cramped, dilapidated building

Anantnag, Nov 14: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Masood (Itoo), expressed serious concern on Thursday regarding the poor state of the Maternity and Child Care Hospital (MCCH) in Anantnag.

Despite being the only specialised facility for maternal and child care in south Kashmir, the hospital operates out of a cramped and deteriorating building.

“I visited the hospital last month and its condition is unacceptable,” Health Minister Sakeen told Greater Kashmir. “The lack of space and inadequate infrastructure pose a high risk of cross-infection, endangering both patients and staff.”

The hospital is situated in the congested Sherbagh locality and remains the primary healthcare choice for pregnant women and newborns, despite the unsanitary and unsafe conditions.

The Emergency and Fire Services Department, along with the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department, declared the building unsafe back in 2014.

Sakeena assured that relocating the hospital was her top priority.

“I am fully aware of the hardships faced by the patients. I am committed to addressing this issue urgently,” she said. “A committee will be formed to explore feasible relocation options, and their findings will guide the next steps.”

The minister said that the government was considering all possible solutions to resolve this issue once and for all.

The MCCH Anantnag currently handles a large volume of patients, with over 40,000 outpatient visits and around 7000 inpatient admissions each month.

Despite these numbers, the hospital’s maternity ward, originally designed to accommodate only 40 beds, often operates beyond its capacity.

The condition of the pediatric unit is not any better and it is impossible to admit critically ill children into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) due to the severe shortage of space.

Plans to relocate the hospital to the Rehmat-e-Alam Hospital building on K P Road were previously abandoned.

Constructed by the Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) at Rs 13 crore, the building’s first two floors – built two decades ago by the Rehmat-e-Alam Trust - were found to be structurally weak by IIT Jammu.

The institute recommended retrofitting and strengthening of the vital beams and columns.

In February 2017, the government approved the takeover of the building by the Health and Medical Education Department, including all its assets and liabilities, after initial efforts to acquire it began in 2015.

However, concerns over structural safety coupled with the slow progress of work on the project have stalled progress.

Itoo reiterated her commitment to finding a suitable location for the hospital to ensure the safety and comfort of both patients and healthcare providers.

“The well-being of patients is paramount, and we are determined to resolve this matter promptly,” she said.