ANANTNAG: Years after the main building at Sherbagh was declared unsafe by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, the authorities shifted back the Maternity and Child Care Hospital there under mysterious circumstances late last night.
The hospital had been shifted to a safe building in Janglat Mandi recently. Hundreds of people registered protest and blocked the Anantnag-Kishtwar road against the move. NC activist Iftikar Misger who also participated in protests told to media that a group of chemists bribed few leaders of a political party who are exerting pressure on administration. “I have reports that four to five influential chemists have bribed politicians and health department officials who are creating hurdles in shifting the hospital.” Iftikar said. He said that how chemists provided vehicles to health department for shifting the hospital equipments during the dead of night.
Official sources at M&CC Anantnag told to Kashmir Observer that medical superintend has ordered doctors to convert a ward into theater unethically. “Our theater suffered damage in a fire incident last week and so we were directed to convert a ward into theater that is totally against the ethics,” a doctor wishing anonymity said.
He acknowledged that hospital was shifted back under political pressure. “Government has ordered a year earlier to shift the hospital as according to Fire and Emergency Services hospital building is unsafe but due to political interference precious lives are being put at risk.” He added. 100 bedded Maternity and Child Care Hospital Anantnag has highest bed occupancy in South Kashmir according to official records and is catering rush from not only south Kashmir but from the far flung areas including Banihal. “If we go through ethics then there should be a proper space from bed to bed in recovery ward but if you will visit the hospital you will find that wards are crammed and there is no space between the beds for doctors to do check up rounds.”
A lady, whishing not to be named said. South Kashmir Civil Society has already threatened to lunch agitation if the administration does not shift the hospital to new building at Janglat Mandi. “We will not allow political parties to politicize our health care sector.” Rao Farman Ali, spokesman SKCS said. “It is a demand of public that the hospital be shifted to a new building which is comparatively better than old one.” He said that all the narrow road links to old hospital building are creating lot of problems to patients and is difficult to be reached so the authorities must reconsider decision in the interest of public.
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