Srinagar, Jul 19 (KNO): Despite a marginal decline in recent months, unnecessary patient referrals from district and sub-district hospitals to tertiary care centres continue to strain Kashmir’s top hospitals, raising concerns over systemic inefficiencies in the region’s healthcare infrastructure.
Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), doctors working in leading tertiary hospitals such as SMHS, SKIMS, and others say that a significant number of patients referred to these institutions could be easily managed at local healthcare facilities if basic issues were addressed.
“Many referrals are avoidable,” said a senior doctor at SMHS Hospital. “Most of these cases don’t require specialised intervention and can be treated at the district or sub-district level. However, due to non-functional operation theatres after working hours, staff shortages, and lack of essential diagnostic facilities, patients are sent here unnecessarily.”
Self-referrals, where patients bypass lower-tier hospitals and directly approach tertiary institutions, are also contributing to the overload.
Health experts believe this trend reflects both a lack of public confidence in peripheral hospitals and poor emergency services at those centres.
Though the number of referrals has declined slightly over the past year due to increased awareness and administrative measures, doctors emphasise that the issue remains critical. “Until we upgrade infrastructure, ensure round-the-clock theatre availability, and post adequate staff in peripheral hospitals, referrals will not stop,” another doctor said.
Doctors said that strengthening peripheral health institutions is key to reducing the pressure on tertiary care. “Improving equipment, ensuring availability of specialists, and continuous monitoring of services at district hospitals can significantly decrease referrals,” said Dr Shabir Ahmad at SKIMS.
Many patients expressed frustration over being referred unnecessarily. “We travelled from Kupwara to Srinagar only to be told that my father’s treatment could have been done at our district hospital,” said Bilal Ahmad, a caregiver at SKIMS. “It is tiring and costly for families.”
Healthcare administrators acknowledge the challenge and insist that efforts are underway to improve services across all levels. However, doctors believe that unless urgent reforms are implemented, Kashmir’s tertiary care hospitals will continue to bear the brunt of a weak lower-tier health system.
They said that the government must upgrade infrastructure, post adequate staff at sub-district and district so that the majority of the cases can be managed at peripheral hospitals and only critical patients are referred to major hospitals—(KNO)