Tracing the Arc of Healthcare in the Valley

Health care is a top priority in the democratic set up of the welfare state. India is also not lagging behind any developed country, though still in the run up to achieve the developed status. The J&k is among the few UT’S that have laid down the vast infrastructure of health care. The modern system of health care in J&K took shape during the Dogra rule and British Raj. In the past the British doctors have contributed a lot to the health care in the valley. To mention, few among them were, Dr.William Elmsile, Dr.Arthur Neve and Dr Earnest Neve who would visit Kashmir regularly to treat the patients in the valley on voluntary basis.

They provided a dedicated and selfless service to the people of Kashmir. They are buried in the cemetery located at Sheikh Bagh Srinagar. The British    built missionary hospitals in Srinagar and Anantnag to make available health care facilities to the people of these areas. Two main hospitals namely SMHS Srinagar and SMGS Jammu were built and made functional by Maharaja Hari Singh and Maharaja Gulab Singh respectively during their period of rule. The British also contributed in establishing the Chest Decease hospital at Dalgate.

After 1947, further expansion in the Health Sector took place due to the efforts of heads of the state during their period of governance. With the passage of time, besides health care, the government of the time laid the foundation of medical education by establishing medical colleges, one each at Srinagar and Jammu. The health sector became more organised by having hospitals at District level, Primary health centres at sub division and tehsil level and medical dispensaries in nook and corner of the state. G.M.Bakshi sb and Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah’s contribution in particular was immense in promoting the health sector. During our period of adolescence, we had seen doctors like Dr. Mohan Singh, Dr.Atri, Dr. Harbhajan singh and few others doing their medical practice mostly in and around Lal Chowk area. With the establishment of GMC Srinagar, the valley was able to have its own qualified doctors.

This was a great step forward in the health sector. Some doctors who passed out from this college attained national as well as international fame. Principals like Dr. Col. Koul and Dr. Syeed Naseer Ahmed Shah contributed a lot in establishing this college as one of the prestigious institutions of India. Dr.Ali Jan sb, a great Physician commonly known as Luqman of Kashmir, for having  par-excellent diagnosis, had resigned from GMC Sgr. and started his own private practice at Magarmal Bagh. Most of the doctors are doing Pvt. Practice or govt. job, were humble and courteous with their patients. Dr. Tahir Mirza, head of chest disease hospital and dr. Syeed Naseer Ahmed Shah in particular was known as the Messiah of poor people for their kind heart and help. One more mileage was achieved in medical education when SKIMS was established by SMA at Soura also declaring it as a deemed medical university.

The institute was built under the supervision of Dr. Nagpal. Though initially it worked very well on the pattern of western system but its function was badly affected due to the disturbances in 1990

Dr. Farooq Abdullah also took keen interest in the development of medical education and health sector. It was Dr.Farooq Abdullah who inducted two medical colleges, JVMC Bemina and ASCOM Batra in govt sector as C.M. of J&K at a time when Jhelum Valley medical college was at the verge of its closure. Dr. Farooq Abdullah had also donated govt; land to the trustee for establishment of Batra medical college Sidhra.

We could not ignore the contribution made by Gh. Nabi Azad as union Health minister and CM of J&K in granting sanction for having medical colleges in the districts of Anantnag, Khutua, Udhampur, Rajouri, Doda and Handwara. This was a big bonanza for J&K to have so many Medical Colleges in one go. This opened the avenues for employment of medical students besides providing health facilities for the people of J&K. The GOI sanctioned two AIIMS one each for Kashmir and Jammu. The construction of buildings for AIIMS at Awantipora  is in progress, whereas the AIIMS at Jammu has become functional. The credit also goes to the Union government, which has been very liberal in granting funds and according sanctions for these medical institutions.

The valley has almost attained self sufficiency in the medical care in the government sector. But the medical care in Pvt. Sector is not picking up the pace as compared to our neighboring states like Punjab and Haryana. The quality of Lab tests in these hospitals needs further improvement. They also need to pay more attention towards the training of their Lab assistants and technicians from reputed institutions besides upgrading the standard of their laboratories. Though the hospitals in this sector have provided some relief to rich and middle class people yet it becomes imperative for the Director Health services and drug controller of Kashmir to function as a watchdog for their efficient working. Since the SMHS Sgr, SKIMS Soura, JVC Bemina, Bones and Joint Hospital Barzulla and Lal Ded Hospital Srinagar are always overburdened with the number of patients particularly from rural districts of the valley, it becomes very difficult for the doctors posted in these hospitals to cope up with the heavy rush of the patients.

And as a result of this, the doctors have to work over-time which affects their efficiency and personal health. Reportedly there are a lot of vacancies of doctors and faculty members in these hospitals and colleges that need to be filled up to improve their efficiency and medical care. Despite the fact that new medical colleges have come up in rural districts, it has provided no relief to the doctors serving in Srinagar hospitals. The government therefore needs to keep adequate specialised facilities available at district level hospitals to reduce the rush of patients from other districts so that it does not affect the normal working of the hospitals in Srinagar. The high incidence of cases of cancer patients in the valley is a matter of grave concern. Kashmiris being a responsible society cannot escape from this obligation to find out some way to mitigate the sufferings of such patients.

The solution lies in having our own dedicated cancer hospital with a research centre to be established in district Budgam. This could be possible only with mutual Public-Pvt. Partnership on no gain and no loss criteria so that the patients suffering from such dreaded disease need not to go outside J&K for treatment. In case the proposal materialises, the wealthy Non Resident Kashmiris could also avail this opportunity to contribute towards this noble cause to support the people living in their land of origin.

We owe much to our doctors who worked in govt. hospitals, with dedication and sometimes even at the cost of their lives, during the trying times after 1990. The 3^rd and 4^th generation of doctors need to discharge their duties as per the Hippocratic Oath taken after passing out from the colleges and also to follow the footsteps of their peers like Dr. Allaqband sb, Dr. M.S.Kharoo sb and Dr. Bilqeese ji who continue to be the assets of our society.

Ab.Rashid Khan (IPS), Former IGP (Rawalpora, Srinagar)