Opening health care services
Covid-19 has left an indelible mark on human race that too across the globe. The dreaded virus hit all parts of the globe and those regions which boasted of good healthcare infrastructure were the hardest hit.
Healthcare facilities and infrastructure in countries like Italy, Spain, US and England almost crumbled owing to the huge number of patients affected by Covid-19. The aftermath of the virus hit is known to all and now after so much devastation including record number of deaths, the healthcare system now seems to be limping back to normal.
However, in the developing world the situation is not as rosy as it was in other parts of the globe. In places like India, Pakistan and other developing nation’s healthcare system witnessed tremendous stress and authorities were left with no other option than to suspend all other activities in most of the hospitals and reserve them exclusively for Covid care alone.
This situation was witnessed in Kashmir as well where almost all the hospitals were informed to entertain covid-19 cases and suspend all other facilities. Though after some time some of the hospitals started other faculties, but the intensity and reach is far from reaching to the normal level.
Most of the hospitals like SMHS and SKIMS Soura are being allowed to run for other healthcare needs but with certain riders, like curtailment in OPD functioning and admitting fresh patients for other healthcare needs.
This situation has triggered a chaos like scene among those patients who are suffering from other ailments. The list also includes expecting mothers who too are in good numbers as most of the private healthcare facilities are closed for operations and people have been left dependent on government sector alone.
This situation is in no way helping ease the worries and concerns of those patients who are suffering from other ailments. The government’s decision to exclusively keep all hospitals for Covid care and closing other private centres to provide healthcare facilities does not augur well for the needs and requirements people have.
This scenario has led to a situation where patients suffering from other ailments besides pregnancies have been left at the receiving end. We are receiving reports about the non-covid patients facing lot of troubles and worries while seeking treatment.
We had news reports about an injured victim being ferried on shoulders to get an X-ray done at a Sopore hospital. Similar kinds of reports are pouring from other areas as well.
At SKIMS the OPD registrations functions for just two hours and patients or their attendants who are waiting in queue face a closed counter at 12 noon despite crying hoarse about this official apathy and neglect. In Budgam and several other places we have been witnessing cases of medical negligence.
This situation needs to be corrected and the authorities need to take a call on reopening of healthcare facilities for non-covid patients. The authorities can however, get strict on the SOP’s that are to be followed in such a scenario.
KV Network
