Kashmir’s far-flung areas face specialist doctor shortage, basic healthcare facilities

Srinagar: The lack of basic healthcare facilities and shortage of specialist doctors in far-flung areas of Kashmir is leading to a severe healthcare crisis.

The patients are often forced to travel long distances to access essential medical care, exacerbating an already strained healthcare system.

Local healthcare centres and hospitals in these areas are ill-equipped to handle complex medical cases, leaving patients with no choice but to travel to get treatment.

The lack of access to timely and specialised medical care has led to on-road deliveries and unfortunate fatalities.

The residents of areas that remain snow-bound like Keran, Machil, Budnamal, Kumkadi, Jumagund, and Moori, have been demanding the posting of gynaecologists to their areas.

This is especially important during the winter months when these areas are cut off from the district headquarters due to heavy snowfall.

Similarly, not a single gynaecologist is posted for around 300 pregnant women in Gurez.

The hospital in Dawar has been without specialised doctors since March, even though the Director of Health Services Kashmir had previously sent specialised doctors to Gurez Valley on a rolling basis to address the region’s failing healthcare system.

The five newly created New Type Primary Health Centres (NTPHCs) in Gurez Valley, including the ones at Choorwan, Gujjran, and Kanzalwan, are functioning without a doctor and are instead run by Female Multi-purpose Health Workers (FMPHWs) or pharmacists.

Kupwara is also reeling under a severe shortage of doctors, which is affecting the quality of healthcare across the frontier district.

According to the details available, of the 488 sanctioned posts of doctors, 166 have been lying vacant for long.

Directorate of Health Services Kashmir (DHSK) spokesman Dr Mir Mushtaq told Greater Kashmir that it was true that the lack of specialist doctors, especially gynaecologists creates problems in the different far-flung areas.

“We are trying to fill the posts. We even send doctors on a rotation basis to different districts. The doctors are being given incentives as well to work in far-flung areas. The government is trying hard to provide all facilities including gynaecologists and anaesthesiologists in these areas,” he said.

He said that far-flung areas, particularly during the winter season, face significant challenges, often becoming cut off from essential services.

“The department is working diligently to ensure that medical facilities and supplies, including medicine, are adequately stocked in these areas,” he said.