Shocking: No electricity, doctors forced to treat patients under candlelight at Kupwara health centre

Kupwara: In a bizarre incident, pictures of doctors treating patients using candles and flashlights due to lack of electricity in a Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Drugmulla Village of North Kashmir's Kupwara has gone viral on social media.

The incident has sparked concern for the patients getting treatment without proper light and the doctors working at the PHC facing inconvenience due to the absence of electricity.

The viral pictures doing rounds on social media have revealed the horrendous condition of the PHC Drugmulla and the government’s lack of attention to resolve the issue.

Because of the lack of electricity, doctors are seen using flashlights on their mobile phones and candles to examine and treat patients. Thus making a bad impression on Kupwara’s health sector.

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The health centre continues to function without a transformer, however, it has a generator that is reportedly out of fuel as well as an operator.

Meanwhile, DDC member Drugmulla advocate Amina Majeed informed KNS that she has taken up the issue several times with both district administration and the health department, but so far no concrete step has been taken.

“I have also shared the viral pictures with DC Kupwara and I am hopeful of some concrete solution this time,” she added.

A National General Secretary from J&K Students Association highlighted the issue by uploading the pictures and mentioning other shortcomings of the centre.

It has come to the fore that some staff are getting salaries from the post even after not working at the PHC.

“Most of the staff of this health centre are working somewhere else however drawing salaries from the posts of this health care centre. Such is a reluctant approach of administration to serve people in rural areas,” the user tweeted.

“Machines have been provided but there is no essential power supply or technicians provided to run those machines. The dental chair is there but the dentist has never been to the hospital, only drawing a salary from here but working on VIP posting,” he added.

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