Why SMHS-SSH desperately need a link

In the bustling part of Srinagar, where SMHS Hospital and Super Speciality Hospital (SSH) stand as pillars of hope for thousands of patients, lies an irony too stark to ignore—a congested road separating care from cure and compassion from convenience.

Each day, patients and their attendants are forced to navigate this chaotic stretch, often under extreme duress, just to access vital services at either facility.

Navigating bumper-to-bumper traffic under the threat of injury and mental distress, patients and their attendants share experiences of  cross-hospital care in this part of the city.

Back in 2019, an aerobridge project connecting SMHS with SSH was sanctioned to address this very issue. The vision was noble to create a safe, direct, and efficient corridor between two of the Valley’s most critical healthcare institutions. The bridge would have enabled seamless movement for patients, doctors, nurses, and emergency services. It would have saved time, reduced distress, and restored dignity to patients in transit.

But as we enter mid-2025, that vision still hangs in limbo.

Despite the Jammu and Kashmir health sector being allocated over Rs 1,750 crore in the 2024-25 budget, not a single brick has been laid for the aerobridge. The absence of action has turned a sanctioned lifeline into a symbol of administrative indifference.

SSH officials and medics admit there is an urgent need for the facility, with some officials confirming that they have already submitted detailed reports to higher authorities at GMC. So where, then, is the bottleneck?

This is not merely an issue of infrastructure—it’s a question of public health, patient dignity, and institutional responsibility.

Patients with limited mobility, elderly people, and those being moved on stretchers face immense physical and psychological strain. The anxiety of crossing a busy road while battling illness can severely impact recovery. Even when ambulances are arranged, their availability is not guaranteed, adding another layer of uncertainty.

More than a bridge, what’s missing here is a sense of urgency.

The media has long highlighted the need for improved healthcare infrastructure in the Valley. In this case, the solution is already on paper—sanctioned and ready. What remains is the political and administrative will to translate blueprints into reality.

The Health and Medical Education Department and the leadership at GMC Srinagar should treat the aerobridge not as a postponed project but as an immediate healthcare necessity. Set deadlines. Appoint a nodal officer. Ensure inter-departmental accountability. And most importantly, let the public know where the project stands.

This isn’t just about constructing a bridge. It’s about restoring humanity in healthcare.

Let this long-delayed structure finally rise—not just over a road, but over the gap between promise and performance.

Author is Sub-Editor at Greater Kashmir.