Inefficiency of the state’s Health Department can be gauged from the complaints that have poured in against the department at the Chief Minister’s Grievance Cell. A total 1106 complaints have been received by the cell pertaining the health department.

Interestingly, the CM’s grievance cell says that 98 per cent complaints, have been resolved. However, the figures point out major loop holes in the efficiency and functioning of the department.

The data also revealed that the health department in Jammu has been quite efficient in comparison to the health department in Kashmir.

On the basis of complaints received by the cell, Health Department stands at number 4, while, Srinagar Municipal Corporation tops the list followed by PDD and state’s Service Selection Recruitment Board (SSRB).

As per figures, the cell received 53 complaints addressed to the Director Health Services, Jammu, and 115 complaints addressed to the Director Health Services, Kashmir.

Mainly, the complaints are about the non-availability of drugs at the concerned hospitals both in Jammu and Kashmir, non-availability of equipments and machinery and non-availability of specialists at major hospitals in the state.

The complaints received about the non-availability of drugs validate the point of various heads of health institutions about the scarcity of medicines even after depositing funds to the J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Limited – JKMSCL, which is governing body for the procurement of Drugs/Medicines in the state, said a source.

Complaints received about the non-availability of doctors have been received from rural areas of the state. The majority of such complaints cry absence of gynaecologists at their local hospitals.

A complaint no 69574, received on 21 July this year said that a doctor from a local hospital in Barota, Sambha was transferred to some other place and since last 20 days the hospital is lying defunct.

Another complaint from district hospital Rajouri said that from last three years there has been no ophthalmologist present in the hospital, and people are forced to go to Jammu for the treatment.

The complaints received from Kashmir division are majorly about the delay in services and absence of drugs.

This newspaper had carried a news report about patients made to wait for months for MRI and other tests at SMHS Hospital, some complaints regarding the issue were also received by the cell. The data says that the issue has been resolved, however, the patients are still complaining about the delay in getting the test done.

Non-functioning of elevators at Lalla Ded Hospital has also been reported to the cell, but the issue is still lingering and is giving tough time to the patients admitted to the hospital. This issue was also reported by this newspaper.

Guest