People rue lack of dental surgeon, inadequate staff at NTPHC Lalpora

Kupwara, Nov 30: Residents of Lalpora and adjoining villages in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district continue to suffer due to the absence of a dental surgeon and shortage of other essential staff at the New Type Primary Health Centre Lalpora. Despite repeated pleas, locals say the administration has failed to address the long-pending issue.

A large population dependent on the health centre is forced to seek treatment elsewhere, as the hospital’s dedicated dental ward—with a chair and equipment—remains non-functional. “We had a dental technician here, but after the Covid-19 outbreak he was transferred and no replacement was posted. The dental section has been defunct since then,” said Nasir Ahmad, a resident.

Locals said the shortage of medical staff has left the hospital struggling to manage the daily patient load. Only two doctors are posted at NTPHC Lalpora, which, according to residents, is grossly insufficient for a population of more than thirty thousand spread across Lalpora, Krusan, Darpora, Gundmacher, Rednag, Hayatpora, Dardpora, and several other villages.

They also highlighted poor infrastructure and non-functional facilities. An old X-ray plant, they said, has never been put to use due to the absence of a trained technician. Residents added that although the Krusan receiving station is only a few kilometres away, the hospital still lacks a dedicated power line that could have ensured uninterrupted electricity.

Emergency services have also been hit. “There is only one ambulance driver available. The ambulance remains functional during the day, but during night emergencies we are forced to hire private vehicles to reach Sogam or Kupwara,” a local resident said.

Pregnancy care continues to suffer as well, with no gynaecologist available at the centre. Expectant mothers are compelled to travel long distances for routine check-ups and deliveries.

Residents said the situation has remained unchanged for years, and basic healthcare services continue to elude the area. They urged Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Shrikant Balasaheb Suse to intervene and ensure that the vacant posts—especially that of a dental surgeon, technician, and additional medical staff—are filled without further delay.

They said that only prompt administrative action can ease the growing hardships faced by the local population.