BY MOHD MAJID MALIK BHADERWAH,MAR22— The working in sub-district hospital in Bhaderwah is severely affected due to shortage of doctors and availability of ambulance for the town . If one goes by the present scenario, SDH Bhaderwah which is also referred to as District hospital has one ambulance and only four doctors who are catering to about 80 villages with a population of more than 1.50 Lakh.
According to officials, the SDH is lacking three specialists, one surgeon and an orthopedics and presently BMO SDH Dr Hamid Zargar is performing the duty of Surgeon out of his duties.Most of the patients who visit SDH OPD are from Athkar ,Chinta ,Sari ,Bhalla ,Dandi ,Sungli ,Drudu and Dhondapani and other adjoining areas of the township. Apart from shortage of doctors, one ambulance is catering to needs of so many patients. Owing to the dearth of ambulances, the patients and doctors are facing hardships for many years.In case of referrals, patients have to suffer a lot due to non-availability of ambulance. There were two ambulances available but one is not functional as it has been under mechanic repair with the result only one is functional. “Our MLA promised several times and also raised this issue in the assembly but nothing has materialised,” said a resident. “There should have been at least five to seven five ambulances here as most of the pregnancy and emergency cases are referred to the city hospitals,” said a doctor wishing anonymity.According to sources in health department, three more ambulances have been sanctioned for the town as part of the special package. “But till date no ambulance has reached and patients continue to suffer,” said attendants. The Chief Medical Officer Doda told that “he has written to higher authorities for posting of more doctors while an ambulance would soon be made available to the hospital and appreciated the efforts of the BMO Bhaderwah who is performing two duties instead of many obstacles .”