PHC Wadipora lacks staff, diagnostic facilities; locals suffer

Kupwara, Oct 26: Residents of Wadipora and adjoining villages in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district have expressed strong resentment over the lack of adequate staff and proper diagnostic facilities at the Primary Health Centre (PHC) Wadipora, saying the authorities have turned a blind eye to their long-pending grievances.

Locals said the hospital, established several years ago, has never received due attention from the health authorities. They said the facility remains ill-equipped to handle even basic healthcare needs, forcing patients to travel long distances to Handwara or other towns for treatment.

“The PHC has a manual X-ray and an ECG machine, but both are outdated and barely serve their purpose,” a resident said, adding that a digital X-ray machine was urgently needed to ensure timely diagnosis.

The absence of an ambulance has further compounded the problem, with residents saying it hampers emergency medical response and referral services.

Pregnancy care, too, has been hit badly due to the absence of a gynaecologist at the centre. “Expectant mothers are forced to travel to Handwara for routine check-ups and deliveries, which is both risky and inconvenient,” said another local.

Residents said they have repeatedly approached health authorities regarding the staff shortage and inadequate facilities, but no tangible action has been taken.

When contacted, Block Medical Officer (BMO) Zachaldara, Dr. Abdul Gani, acknowledged that the entire Zachaldara medical block suffers from a shortage of doctors. “Despite that, two medical officers have been deputed to PHC Wadipora,” he said.

He added that since PHC Wadipora has been aligned with GMC Handwara, it is now the responsibility of the medical college to provide staff and upgrade diagnostic facilities at the centre.