Peerzada Sayeed
Tangdhar, Karnah: The Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Tangdhar in Karnah is grappling with a critical shortage of doctors, raising concerns about the provision of adequate healthcare services in the region. Out of the required 17 doctors, only six MBBS doctors are currently working at the hospital. Moreover, the absence of essential specialists such as anesthesiologists,gynaecologists, physician specialist and paediatricians further compounds the healthcare crisis. Recent transfers have resulted in the departure of three doctors from the facility, leaving no replacements.
Adding to the challenges, the entire population of nearly one lakh in the Karnah region is reliant on only two lab technicians and one X-ray technician. The Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in Teetwal and Cheterkote are also facing staffing shortages, with only one doctor each. Similarly, PHC Gabra has none Paramedical staff member. The scarcity of medical professionals and the lack of adequate facilities in these health centres pose significant obstacles to delivering quality healthcare to the local population.
Over the past year, more than seven doctors have been transferred to the region, but no one has joined, exacerbating the doctor shortage. Even when doctors do join the SDH Tangdhar, they often resign from their posts shortly afterward. Compounding the situation is Karnah’s geographical isolation, as heavy snowfall during the winter months cuts off the region from the district headquarters and the valley, making access to healthcare even more difficult.
Raja Waqar Khan, a social activist and the General Secretary of Civil Society Karnah, expressed frustration with the lack of attention from the LG administration. He highlighted the dire circumstances faced by the impoverished population, which cannot afford to travel to Srinagar for necessary medical care. Khan pointed out that doctors appointed under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) lack a transfer policy, discouraging new doctors from joining the region. He urged the government to address this issue promptly by formulating a transfer policy for doctors in order to ensure a steady supply of medical professionals in the area. RAJA emphasised that access to quality healthcare is a fundamental right that should not be neglected.
Danihal Mir, another social activist, shed light on the reluctance of some doctors to accept postings in Karnah. He noted that while some doctors have been serving in the region for over 15 years, the absence of a transfer policy deters new recruits. Mir argued that implementing a transfer policy would attract more doctors to the area. He also highlighted the inadequacy of the current healthcare infrastructure, with only a 30-bed hospital and a lack of specialist doctors to cater to the needs of Karnah’s sizable population.
The situation at SDH Tangdhar and the surrounding health centres in Karnah is alarming. Urgent attention is required from the LG administration and the government to address the severe shortage of doctors and improve healthcare facilities. Ensuring access to quality healthcare services is crucial for the well-being and prosperity of the local population, and it is imperative that steps are taken to uphold their fundamental right to adequate medical care.
