Srinagar: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) today said that many Kashmiri doctors left for greener pastures and abandoned poor patients at a time when their services were needed most.
President DAK Dr Nisar ul Hassan in a statement said that exodus of doctors to foreign countries was allowed and poor patients beard the brunt who were left to fend for themselves.
Public money was spent on training of these non-resident Kashmiri (NRK) doctors with an aim that after completing their training they will serve their own people.
These doctors migrated to foreign countries for money and future of their children and poor patients suffered the consequences.
The prime object of medical profession is service to humanity and financial gain is a subordinate consideration.
Deserting poor patients for money these NRK doctors have sent a wrong signal to so many young doctors for whom they were role models.
It is painful to see these NRK doctors sermonizing on medical ethics when they are pushed back after retirement.
We fail to understand why government is asking help from NRK doctors who were responsible for health care crisis in Kashmir.
State is duty bound to ensure quality healthcare to all and poor patients should have access to free medicines, diagnostic tests and treatment in government hospitals.
Right to health is a fundamental right and government is under obligation to protect the health of people.
But as of now poor patients in Kashmir are dying because of unaffordability and inaccessibility to health care.
Denial of access to health is a grave offence and state should be held accountable for not fulfilling its duty.