Srinagar, Apr 28 (KNO): As government focuses exclusively on Covid-19 pandemic with all its men and machinery fighting the deadly pandemic, non-covid patients have been left in lurch as many leading hospitals have been designated as covid-19 hospitals where only Coronavirus patients are being treated.
The closure of out-patients department (OPD) and putting the surgeries on hold has added to the problems of the patients who have health issues other than Covid. In order to contain the situation and avoid the spread of covid-19, authorities shut OPDs in major hospitals and dedicate their men and machinery to fight the deadly pandemic.
As several major hospitals were turned into covid-19 quarters and OPDs were closed, the non Covid patients in Jammu and Kashmir are facing immense hardships.
"My wife is a suffering from Asthma and was getting treated at CD hospital since many years " said Shabir Ahmad a resident of Pulwama told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), adding that as CD hospital has been designated as covid hospital, he is in a dilemma where to take his wife for treatment.
"The doctor who was treating her was aware about her history of ailment and I fail to understand how a new doctor can treat her," he said. Ghulam Nabi, another patient from Bijbehara area of Anantnag district having chest ailments said that he was being treated at GMC Anantnag however, GMC Anantnag is specially now only for covid-19, he is unable to get treatment.
“Since OPD at GMC Anantnag has been closed, we were now planning to take him to SKIMS or SMHS but there are no transport facilities available,” said son-in-law of Ghulam Nabi
With most doctors are busy in dealing with covid-19, dozens of families with ailing patients are finding themselves at the crossroads of the health crisis. “People suffer from lot of life threatening diseases here,” said a doctor, adding that they need regular checkups and follow-up but government is asking such patients to consult the doctors online.
"How is it possible to treat critical ailments over a phone call, that too by a doctor who isn't aware about medical history of the patient," the doctor said.
"There are hundreds of patients who are unable to contact doctors online and mostly doctors are being contacted, their numbers usually come busy," he said.
Another doctor at JVC Bemina said that most non-covid patients who were being treated at JVC Bemina, CD hospital Srinagar, JLNM Srinagar and other major hospitals are still unaware where they have go for treatment.
He said that one who was getting treatment at CD hospital is of the opinion that he won't get treatment anywhere till CD hospital won't be reopened for all patients after covid-19 pandemic will be over.
“It is very important that government is focusing on covid-19 but that doesn't mean we can let it overshadow non covid patients," Doctors association Kashmir president Dr Nisar Ul Hassan told KNO.
He said that there are dozens of deaths every day in valley due to non covid ailments but that is not reported as “our whole focus is on covid-19 due to which out of around 600 patients, 7 have died with all of them were having other ailments.”
Doctors at SMHS hospital said that they are hardly receiving 20 to 30 percent patients of that they were receiving before covid-19. There should have been huge rush of patients at SMHS as all other major hospital have been kept for covid-19 patients but only critical patients come to hospital, they said.
Patients are facing lot of inconveniences in terms of getting pass, transport facility and other issues, due to which most patients are avoiding check-ups and follow-ups which otherwise is very important for them.
Meanwhile, Division commissioner Kashmir PK Pole told KNO that non-covid patients are being treated at Primary health centres, sub district hospitals and if there is any critical case they are being shifted to SKIMS or SMHS.
“Every facility including all medicines are available for non-Covid patients. We have directed private hospitals to resume their work as well so that non-covid patients won't suffer any more,” he said.
Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar Principal Dr Samia Rashid told KNO that every day hundreds of non-covid patients are being treated at SMHS, LD and GB Pant including cancer patients.
Asked OPDs have been closed, she said that OPDs are closed but hundreds of critical patients are being admitted in emergency every day and are accordingly being shifted to other wards.
Dr Farooq Jan Medical Superintendent SKIMS told KNO that due to lock down the patient rush has decreased by 40% but every non-covid patient is being treated at SKIMS normally.
“We never closed OPD or emergency ward at SKIMS, he said, adding that since covid started in Kashmir, over 45000 patients were treated at SKIMS.
He further added that over 400 major surgeries were also conducted at SKIMS since first case of covid-19 was tested positive in valley,” he said—(KNO)