J&K: Shortage of Gynaecologists at Handwara district hospital

Kupwara: The Handwara District Hospital, one of the pioneer medical institutes in north Kashmir, has been reeling under a shortage of gynecologists for a long time and no steps have been taken so far to fill the vacant posts. 

Even after constant requests made by the locals regarding the shortage of gynecologists at the hospital, the matter has reached no solution which has now sparked anger among the people.

The locals of the district have sought the filling up vacant posts at the earliest and immediate intervention of Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha so that they can get proper medical attention and the hospital will also function smoothly.

Due to the shortage of doctors at the hospital, the locals have struggled for months and the matter was overlooked by the higher authorities. They said that while they were suffering because of delayed treatments, the authorities witnessed the situation as 'mute spectators'.

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Despite raising the issue at the hands of the Administrative Secretary of Health and Medical Education Bhupinder Kumar during his recent visit to District Hospital Handwara, no improvements have been made so far.

Therefore, people in the district stood firm on their demands and urged the government to take the matter seriously. They said until the vacant posts of gynecologists are permanently filled, the government should notify the posts under NHM so that the hardships being faced by common people may lessen.

According to the data provided by GK, out of three sanctioned gynaecologist posts at the hospital, two are lying vacant.

With only three doctors working at the hospital, the pressure on them has increased and neither the government nor the hospital authorities are taking any action to solve the issue.

The doctors and the people have fallen victim to the same situation with no other alternative option in their hands. Moreover, talks are in the process to transfer a gynaecologist to another area which will make the work more stressful for the existing doctors.

An official at the hospital said that a doctor with Diploma in Gynaecology and Obstetrics is posted here and he is supposed to join at Gurez Valley for one month under a recent order by the Director Health Services Kashmir.

"Once the doctor with Diploma in Gynaecology and Obstetrics joins Gurez, the hospital will be left with only two gynecologists which will hamper the smooth functioning of the section. The available doctors are already overburdened with work and shifting one doctor to Gurez will make their work tougher," the official added.

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