NHM crisis: Peripheral healthcare takes hit in Pulwama
Pulwama: What can be termed as a crisis like situation that has emerged due to the strike of National Health Mission (NHM) employees, peripheral healthcare is Pulwama seems to be defunct with the absence of doctors and paramedics at Public Health Centre (PHC) Litter.
The PHC is running without doctors, while most of the doctors, lab technician and staff nurses are absent as they are on strike for more than a month now, demanding regularization of their services.
Locals, on Saturday morning staged protest at Tehsil Headquarter, Litter and demanded the immediate services of doctors at the Health Centre.
“There are total 16 employees working at the Centre, which includes 6 NHM employees,” said Dr Sajad, who is working as dental surgeon at the Centre.
“2 doctors are among 6 NHM employees working at the Centre, who are on strike from last thirty two days due to which the entire OPD system has come to the halt, added.
Locals of the area complained that many of their tests are lying pending in the laboratory of the centre, since NHM employees are on strike.
“Despite several pleas, authorities have failed to provide the Centre with the backup support,” the locals allege.
When this reporter contacted Naib Tehsildar, Litter Gh Muhammad Wani, he said that he has conveyed the same to the DDC Pulwama “On Monday back up doctors will be deployed at the Centre,” he said.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Pulwama Talat Jabeen, admitted that due to the strike of NHM employees, the peripheral healthcare has taken a hit, “there is shortage of doctors however we are working now on rationalisation process,” she said.
KV Correspondent
