Srinagar, Mar 18 (KNO): The Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Nagbal Yousmarg area of Budgam continues to operate from a rented building, affecting patient care as the construction of a new building for the hospital remains incomplete.
Currently, the PHC is functioning from a three-room structure that lacks adequate facilities for patients.
A health official, who wished not to be named, informed the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that while patients visit the centre for first aid and immunisation, essential facilities are lacking.
Despite the availability of staff, the limited space hampers their ability to provide efficient services, the official added.
"The basic facilities necessary for better patient care are absent, leaving us with no choice but to transfer patients to SDH Chaar-e-Shareef or District Hospital Pulwama for treatment," he said.
Locals said the village, situated a few kilometres away from the tourist spot Yousmarg, witnesses heavy tourist footfall. “Road accidents occur frequently. However, with the PHC's inadequate infrastructure, patients often need to be shifted elsewhere for treatment,” said Ghulam Hassan, a resident.
Hassan said that during heavy snowfall, the village becomes cut off from the rest of the valley. “We have transported patients to hospitals on carts. There is an urgent need to equip the health centre with modern facilities,” he said.
Although the staff are dedicated and striving to enhance services, the absence of adequate facilities and space undermines their efforts, locals said. They said despite raising concerns with the authorities, the construction of the new building has faced delays, leaving the project incomplete.
Locals said that initially, the construction was halted due to a lack of funds, and though work is expected to resume soon, internal works such as doors and windows remain pending. They have urged higher authorities to intervene, restart the work and expedite the project to alleviate the suffering of residents.
An official from the health department said that work on the hospital would resume shortly.
“The work was put on halt due to paucity of funds but it is expected to resume soon,” he said—(KNO)