Anantnag, June 21 (JKNS): Amid the growing controversy surrounding the Cath Lab at Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag and disciplinary action against cardiologist Dr. Syed Maqbool Ahmad Shah, patients, residents and sections of the medical fraternity have urged the Jammu and Kashmir Government to constitute an independent panel of senior cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology experts from premier institutions, including AIIMS and other reputed cardiac centres, to conduct a comprehensive scientific review of the allegations.
A group of patients from Anantnag told news agency JKNS, who had previously undergone treatment at the GMC Anantnag Cath Lab described Dr. Maqbool as a dedicated cardiologist and expressed concern over the uncertainty surrounding advanced cardiac care services in South Kashmir.
They said the issue has generated anxiety among heart patients and their families, particularly those dependent on the Cath Lab for specialised procedures that would otherwise require travel to Srinagar or outside Jammu and Kashmir.
“We are not in a position to comment on technical medical allegations, but we want the truth to come out through an impartial expert investigation. At the same time, life-saving cardiac services should not suffer,” a patient from Anantnag told JKNS.
Residents maintained that the Cath Lab has emerged as a crucial healthcare facility catering to thousands of patients from Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, Pulwama and adjoining districts. They stressed that any prolonged disruption in services could adversely affect patients requiring urgent cardiac intervention.
Several members of the public called upon the government to constitute a high-level independent committee comprising nationally recognised cardiologists and electrophysiology specialists to personally examine medical records, procedural documentation and technical aspects of the cases under scrutiny.
They argued that specialised cardiac pacing procedures involve complex clinical considerations and should be assessed by experts in the field before final conclusions are drawn.
“The matter is highly technical and deserves evaluation by professionals with expertise in advanced cardiac electrophysiology. A transparent review will help establish facts and maintain public confidence,” a resident said.
The demand for an independent review comes amid reports that some cardiac specialists, including experts based outside Jammu and Kashmir, have described the controversy as a complex medical issue requiring detailed scientific assessment.
Patients and local residents also emphasized that accountability and due process should go hand in hand. They said that if any wrongdoing is established, appropriate action must follow, but if allegations are found to be unsubstantiated, the professional reputation and years of service of medical professionals should also be protected.
Many residents appealed to the government to ensure that advanced cardiac treatment facilities at GMC Anantnag continue functioning while the inquiry process is underway, arguing that public healthcare should not become a casualty of the ongoing controversy.
Calling for a balanced, evidence-based and transparent approach, residents said the final outcome should be guided by scientific evaluation, expert opinion and verifiable facts, ensuring both accountability and uninterrupted healthcare services in the larger public interest. (JKNS)
