The number of doctors at PHCs has fallen from 1224 in 2014 to 834 in 2015. Similarly, the number of specialists has fallen from 176 to 167 during the same period.
|| B.A. DARZI
Diagnostic labs in hospitals are dysfunctional with the radiographer strength has fallen from 315 to 239 in the year between the two health reports. Lab technicians have also left the government services as their strength has fallen from 810 to 763.
The claims of the growth and improvement in the health sector of Jammu and Kashmir have all in unison fallen flat with a recent detailed health survey paints a grim picture of state’s worsening situation on health ground. A report published at all India level reveals that there are more than 50,000 cancer patients registered in different medical institutes in the state. It goes on further, saying medical equipment like machines used for testing purposes and even for surgical procedures are claimed to be nonoperational in some premier hospitals. It is a compelling reason for patients to be shifted to private hospitals where services are said to be better and effective.
The report has also projected the worsening healthcare system at state’s far flung areas wherein, as per the report, the non- availability of the medicos, machines and defunct health centers is taking toll. The Rural Health Statistics-2015 virtually nullified the government claims of being awarded as the best state vis-a-vis rural healthcare. It says that the scarcity of the staff at peripheral hospitals has dropped and the number of rural health centres has remained unchanged. Published by National Health Mission, Rural Health Statistics-2015, it says that the number of doctors at PHCs has fallen from 1224 in 2014 to 834 in 2015. Similarly, the number of specialists has fallen from 176 to 167 during the same period.
The report also clearly shows that diagnostic labs in hospitals are dysfunctional with the radiographer strength has fallen from 315 to 239 in the year between the two health reports. Lab technicians have also left the government services as their strength has fallen from 810 to 763. According to the findings of the report, the worsening health scenario at the far flung areas of Jammu and Kashmir is at its worst stage.
The number of medical technicians is also dropping at an increasing pace. . It has fallen from 4654 to 4362 between March 2014 and March 2015.
It reveals that despite the increase in the number of patients, there has been no action taken by the government to provide health care at peoples’ door steps. According to the report, in 2014, the number of sub-centres in J&K stood at 2265; in 2015, the number remained unchanged. Similarly, the number of PHCs in 2014 was 637 which remained unchanged in 2015. And the number of CHCs was 84 in 2014 and 2015. The number of medical technicians is also dropping at an increasing pace.
It has fallen from 4654 to 4362 between March 2014 and March 2015. The findings of the report have not only put state’s health ministry in tight- spot but have also unmasked its tall claims over the betterment in state’s health sector. What could prove as a nerve breaking exercise of the government is to rectify the wrongs. Till date, there has been no major initiative taken by the helmsmen here that could have ensured better health care system in the state. Now, when the government claims to be serious about bringing serious changes in the health sector, it is yet to be seen where from it would begin the change.
