Three years on, upgraded Sub-centre yet to be made functional as NTPHC
Anantnag: Despite the authorities approving the upgradation of sub-centre Chakoora alongside four other such centres as New Type Primary Health Centre (NTPHC) in 2017-18, the particular health facility continues to function as sub-centre even after a lapse of three years, with authorities failing to give any genuine reason, locals said.
They said that in year 2017-2018 Government upgraded many Sub-centers to PHC’s and NTPHC,s like SC Satoora, SC Aripal, SC Rathsuna, SC Shar’ Shali and SC Chakoora was upgraded into NTPHC.
All of them excluding sub centre Chakoora have been upgraded and made fully functional besides that they have been equipped well, they said.
Locals claim that the Sub centre was inaugurated as NTPHC by senior health officials but due to unknown reasons it continues to function as Sub-centre.
They said that they have brought this issue into the notice of higher ups several times but every time they were informed that it hasn’t been upgraded to NTPHC.
Locals raised questions that if Sub centre Chakoora wasn’t upgraded then why did the government spent about 2.5 crore for construction of a new building.
They said that first during construction panel board ‘New Type Primary Health center Chakoora Pulwama’ was installed on new building but then it still continues to function as Sub-centre.
They said that Chakoora is big village besides that there are adjacent villages who have to either visit PHC Litter or PHC Panzgam for treatment.
The locals demanded intervention of Director Health Services Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner Pulwama and Chief Medical Officer Pulwama in this regard.
Meanwhile, a senior health officer said that the centre was never upgraded to NTPHC and if it would have been upgraded to NTPHC, then creation of posts to run the centre would have been initiated at the very onset.
“A building has been constructed there but it is just a sub centre and as per population it is not feasible to convert it to NTPHC,” the officer said, adding that despite being a sub centre a doctor is performing duties there besides that vaccination, immunization and sample collection is being done there.
“We have tried to help the local population by providing most of the services at the centre and if people are demanding something else they should raise the issue with top officials of the department,” he added.
Jahangeer Ganaie
