Health care is the pulse of nation. Public health sector is the backbone of a country. Unfortunately enough, the public Healthcare in Kashmir still need improvement. The Prime example is the leading public healthcare hospital SMHS.
It has wonderful legacy. SMGS was thrown open to public by Maharaja Hari Singh on 6th May 1940, the foundation stone of SMHS Srinagar was laid by Marquess of Linlithgow, the Viceroy of India in 1940. The viceroy was on a visit to Kashmir . SMHS hospital Srinagar was inaugurated by his successor, Lord Wavell on 11th of October 1945.
The lack of manpower was witnessed in the hospital on the eve of Eid when scores of patients and their attendants revealed that nobody was manning the all important ECHO Cardiography Machine.
Scores of cardiac patients suffered on this count.
In other painful note, Patients seeking medical care at SMHS Hospital, Kashmir’s largest tertiary care institute, have to queue up for hours for an OPD registration card.
The authorities have failed to reduce the waiting time, despite assurances in the past and in spite of introducing an app-based registration system.
Last year, SMHS Hospital administration had admitted to gaps in patient care and underscored the need for upgrading facilities saying Rs one crore is needed for maintenance work of the hospital.
The masses are worried that dearth of doctors and other staff seen in the hospital and more so made dire on the days of Eid Highlight grave fallacies in the SMHS hospital.
Today was National Doctor’s despite that we have lot to do to improve patient care.
Commercialization of patient health care has created lot of problems in our part of the world.
The Need of the hour is to improve the facilities of SMHS hospital on war foot basis.