SRINAGAR: Former minister Syed Basharat Bukhari has expressed serious concern over the severe shortage of medical staff at the Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Kreeri, which he claims is compromising patient care.
In a statement, Bukhari criticized the government’s failure to address the staffing crisis, calling it a glaring example of dereliction of duty towards maintaining quality healthcare facilities in Jammu and Kashmir.
Bukhari highlighted that six medical positions at SDH Kreeri, which serves thousands of residents in Kreeri and surrounding villages, have remained unfilled. Additionally, he pointed out the vacancy for an orthopedic consultant and the transfer of an ophthalmologist to Bandipora without a replacement. Moreover, he noted that a consultant anesthesiologist is currently attached to Sopore hospital, further exacerbating the manpower shortage.
“The dearth of manpower has created a crisis of sorts in the hospital and has significantly burdened the existing staff, who are struggling to maintain quality patient care due to the increased workload,” Bukhari stated. He urged the government to urgently fill these critical vacancies to ensure quality healthcare at the hospital.
“If the government is unable to fill these vacant posts, then they should admit their helplessness and close the hospital rather than operate a facility that is unable to provide quality healthcare,” he added, emphasizing the urgent need for intervention to address the manpower shortage and improve patient care at SDH Kreeri.

KR Desk