Srinagar: Govt shuts down 24×7 Orthopedic clinics at five district, sub-district Hospitals

Srinagar: The state government has shut down the 24×7 orthopaedic clinics being operational at the five district and sub-district hospitals, this move came after the fact that the Bone and Joint Hospital building is now fully functional again.

In March, this year, The Director of Health Services Kashmir passed an order to start orthopaedic clinics at five district and sub-district hospitals due to the fire incident at Bone & Joint Hospital Barzulla Srinagar which hampered the normal functioning of the hospital.

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that orthopaedic clinics at five health institutions had been opened so that patients won't face any problems and get proper treatments. Further, it was ordered that the five health institutions of this Directorate shall run 24×7 Orthopaedic services in the interest of patient care.

Also read- Srinagar: 24×7 Orthopedic Clinics At Five District, Sub-District Hospitals

The 24×7 clinics at the five designated hospitals for patient care services include Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial Hospital Rainawari Srinagar, District Hospital Pulwama, District Hospital Kulgam, Sub District Hospital Kupwara, and Sub District Hospital Sopore.

However, the scenario changed after the government decided to close these clinics which would affect patients at a large number. For the past 6 months, patients were dependent on these clinics and were getting quality treatments after the DHS pulled doctors and staff into these clinics.

Now, the big question that arises from the situation is "Where will the patients go? Will closing the clinics benefit the tertiary care hospitals?" it is unclear to determine whether the outcome would benefit the hospitals as well as the patients or turn into a messy situation of patients waiting in a long queue trying to get medical treatments or surgeries from the hospitals.

According to the senior health officials, the closure of these orthopaedic clinics will affect the flow of surgeries conducted at B&J hospital and other district hospitals.

The officials said that over 18000 patients have been received in the OPDs, over 300 in IPDs even as over 1100 surgeries, including over 100 major surgeries, were also conducted across Orthopaedic Clinics in these months.

"The closure of the orthopaedic clinics will again put a burden on tertiary care hospitals in Srinagar. Besides, surgeries which were conducted at these hospitals have come to a halt," the official in the health department said.

The doctors and other staff have been directed to return to the B&J hospital and the clinics have been closed. The tally of the number of patients received at the clinics was 4300 at Sub District Hospital, Sopore's Orthopaedic OPD, 55 in IPD, while 25 major surgeries along with 55 minor surgeries were also conducted, reports Rising Kashmir.

At DH Kulgam, 3250 patients were received in the OPD, 50 in IPD, while 33 major surgeries along with 50 minor surgeries were also conducted.

Similarly, at DH Kupwara, 3200 patients were received in the OPD, 75 in IPD, while 12 major surgeries along with 520 minor surgeries were carried out.

At DH Pulwama, so far, 4106 patients were received in the OPD, 41 in the IPD while 31 major surgeries—including one spine surgery—along with 370 minor surgeries have been conducted.

At JLNM Hospital, 3357 patients were received in the OPD, 80 in IPD while 27 major surgeries along with 30 minor surgeries were also conducted.

The Bone and Joint Hospital (B&J) at Barzulla receives at least 500 patients with bone and joint problems and 40 to 45 accident cases every day.

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