NTPHC in south Kashmir lacks staff, other basic facilities
Anantnag: Established almost two decades ago, the New Type Primary Health Centre (NTPHC) in Naina Sangam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district is painting a grim picture as the health institution lacks all basic facilities leaving the patients to suffer.
Residents told ‘Kashmir Vision’ that a NTPHC was established here before 20 years back and falls under Qaimoh Kulgam medical block, has been ignored by the previous governments as well as the present administration.
“No doctor was permanently posted here ever since and it continues to lack in all other basic facilities,” the locals rued.
They said that residents of over one dozen villages are suffering due to the callous attitude of authorities towards the centre.
The locals said that the health centre lacks all the basic infrastructure required for its smooth functioning and just three staff members were posted here to take care of all the requirements.
“A doctor is made available for two to three days a week. No medicine or even first aid is available here due to which we are forced to shift every patient to Sub district hospital Bijbehara which is around 6 kilometres from here,” Mukhtar Ahmad, a local resident said.
He added that only one class IV employee is now posted here and one can imagine that how this health facility must be functioning.
“Authorities have kept this NTPHC only on papers as it has a building with no laboratory and other basic facilities,” Sajad Ahmad, another local resident said.
“Despite several appeals to the higher ups, nothing has been done so far,” he said, appealing concerned authorities to look into the grievances of the locals.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Kulgam Dr Fazil Kochak, when contacted told ‘Kashmir Vision’ that the doctor posted there is presently associated with Covid-19 assignment.
He said that they are arranging consultation facilities on rotation basis at the NTPHC and a doctor will be sent there soon.