Patients quiver as heating systems in hospitals not started

Srinagar, Nov 10: Patients in hospitals across Kashmir are shivering in the cold as the heating systems have not been started yet.

The lack of heating is also putting the lives of patients at risk, especially those with cardiac, stroke, asthma, and chronic obstructive lung diseases.

The majority of the peripheral hospitals are without inbuilt central heating systems and they rely on traditional heaters without vents.

Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan said that the patients face huge inconvenience as the heating systems of hospitals are not operational yet.

Dr Hassan said that the lack of heating in hospitals is putting the lives of patients at risk.

“Children and elderly are especially prone to hypothermia that can lead to respiratory and cardiac dysfunction and even death. Patients are shivering with cold as the heating systems of hospitals have not been started yet,” he said.

Meanwhile, patients and their attendants have expressed concern over the potential impact of the cold environment on patient recovery and overall well-being.

“We are already grappling with health problems but now the cold further aggravates our problems,” said a patient at CD Hospital.

An attendant said that they were urging the hospital authorities to expedite the resolution of the heating system issue to ensure a conducive and comfortable atmosphere for all.

“We are with patients. They are shivering and we are equally affected by this chilly cold,” said Gulzar Ahmad, another attendant.

Medical Superintendent of CD Hospital, Dr Saleem Tak told Greater Kashmir that they would soon start the heating system.

“We have not received the order yet. So, the heating system has not been started. Most probably, we will start the heating system from November 15,” he said.

However, DHSK spokesman Dr Mir Mushtaq told Greater Kashmir that heaters and air conditioners had already been started in labour rooms and critical areas of hospitals, and the central heating system would be started on November 15.

“We are taking all necessary steps to ensure that all facilities will be in place,” he said.

Besides that, DHSK has asked all the Chief Medical Officers, Medical Superintendents, and Block Medical Officers of the Kashmir division to mobilise and gear up all the resources for winter.

“Ensure availability of doctors, paramedics, availability of drugs in sufficient quantity, the readiness of fleet of ambulances, ensuring power backup, setting-up of control rooms at district as well as at the level of sub-district hospitals and heating arrangements in all government healthcare institutions across Kashmir so that the patients are managed properly and timely, besides, referrals to the tertiary care hospitals are avoided, especially when all the roads remain cut off during snow in Kashmir except in emergency cases,” reads an official order.

The concerned officials have asked for ensuring that the border and hard-to-reach areas, which might remain cut off during winters had adequate medicines including emergency drugs, oxygen cylinders, placing of curtains on doors, covering of windows with polythene, wherever needed to keep the hospitals warm.