It’s time to recognise their sacrifices and work together to strengthen healthcare for all
By Dr Fazal Wani
Every morning in Kashmir, crowds begin to gather outside government hospitals long before the doors open. Patients come from far-flung villages, elderly parents lean on their children for support, and anxious families hold onto hope. Inside, doctors and healthcare workers get ready for another exhausting day, a day filled with responsibilities far beyond what most people can imagine. Yet, despite being the only affordable lifeline for the majority, government hospitals often receive the harshest criticism.
People frequently compare them to private and cooperative hospitals. But these comparisons ignore one simple truth: Government hospitals are not meant to be commercial centres; they are meant to serve everyone, especially those who cannot afford costly healthcare.
Government doctors in Kashmir deal with overwhelming patient loads. On a single day, one doctor may examine more patients than a private doctor sees in an entire week. They manage emergencies, routine illnesses, follow-up care, national health programmes, paperwork, and at times, even administrative duties, all with limited staff and infrastructure.
The public expectation, however, remains the same: Why is there a delay? Why is the facility crowded? Why isn’t the service like private hospitals? But we must ask, can two entirely different systems be judged by the same yardstick?
Private Sector: A Matter of Choice
Let it be clearly understood that this article is not against private doctors or private hospitals. Private healthcare is a personal choice. Earning is every individual’s right. Private hospitals require investment, and they operate commercially. They offer comfort, convenience, and quick service for those who choose to pay for it. However, we Kashmiris often contradict ourselves. We voluntarily go to private hospitals and then complain about the fee: “They charged too much.” But did they force anyone to walk through their doors? No. It was a personal choice. Meanwhile, the same illness, the same injection, the same consultation can be received at a government hospital for just some rupees or even free. The only thing asked for in return is patience. Because hundreds of others are waiting for the same affordable treatment.
Government doctors perform small miracles every day: Treating emergencies with minimal equipment. Managing a long queue of patients without turning anyone away. Handling critical cases until referral becomes possible. Staying late hours because someone’s life depends on it. They do this without ever asking for applause. Many times, they do not even get proper breaks. Yet, instead of appreciation, criticism lands faster than gratitude.
Here is a question we must reflect upon: Do we ever step forward to strengthen the system we depend on? Have we demanded that the authorities fill vacant medical and paramedical posts, provide adequate staff and diagnostics, improve infrastructure and sanitation, and supply better machines and life-saving equipment? Most often, the answer is no. If the public, media, and community leaders stood with government doctors instead of against them, change would happen faster. A united voice for improvement is always stronger than thousands of complaints shouted separately.
Government hospitals are the backbone of public health care. They serve the poorest and the richest alike. Work 24×7 for emergencies. Provide treatment without judging who can pay. Carry the burden of national health missions. Ensure healthcare remains a right, not a privilege. Strengthening them means strengthening our entire society.
Let Us Change the Narrative
Before criticising, let us look at the wider picture. Let us appreciate the service, sacrifice, and struggle behind those crowded corridors. Government doctors do not ask for praise. They ask for support. They ask for understanding. They ask for better facilities and sufficient staff so that they can serve us better. Instead of comparing them with private hospitals, let us help bridge the gap together.
Because in the end, improving a government hospital does not only help doctors, it protects the health and dignity of every Kashmiri family.
The writer is a Medical Officer in the Ladakh Union Territory
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