Shafqat Sheikh
Public welfare in any nation is best judged by the quality of education and healthcare it provides to its citizens. Unfortunately, in Jammu and Kashmir, both sectors have been heavily privatized and commercialized, leaving the public system in shambles. Despite numerous government welfare schemes, the healthcare system remains plagued by inefficiency, politicization, and a lack of resources, particularly in rural areas.
A System in Crisis
The healthcare system in rural Jammu and Kashmir is in a state of collapse. During harsh winters, sub-zero temperatures and inadequate infrastructure make it nearly impossible for patients, especially pregnant women, to access medical care. Recent incidents highlight this grim reality. In the Bunjwah area, a labor pain patient had to be carried on shoulders for over 6 kilometers to reach the nearest Health and Wellness Center. After initial treatment at Primary Health Centre (PHC) Nali, she was shifted to Government Medical College (GMC) Doda and later to GMC Jammu for further care. Such incidents are not isolated. Pregnant women often give birth on roads or in vehicles due to the lack of functional healthcare facilities in remote areas.
The irony is stark. On the same day such tragedies unfold, government programs like Ayushman Bharat and *Beti Bachao Beti Padhao*—aimed at improving maternal and child health—are being promoted through workshops and awareness camps. Yet, the ground reality remains unchanged.
Long-Pending Demands
One of the most pressing demands in Bunjwah is the upgradation of PHC Nali to a Community Health Center (CHC). The area, with a significant population, lacks essential medical services, including gynecologists, dental surgeons, and paramedical staff. Other health centers in the region, such as NTPHC Patnazi, remain non-functional, depriving locals of basic medical aid.
Root Causes of Institutional Failure
The healthcare crisis in Jammu and Kashmir stems from systemic institutional failure and politicization. Successive governments have failed to adopt a scientific and holistic approach to healthcare policy. While initiatives like establishing AIIMS-pattern hospitals have been announced, existing hospitals and public health centers remain under-equipped and understaffed.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the ideal doctor-patient ratio is 1:1000. In India, it stands at 1:2000, but in Jammu and Kashmir, the ratio plummets to 1:3864. This severe disparity is exacerbated by sluggish recruitment processes and the reluctance of doctors to serve in rural areas.
District hospitals and public health centers, often referred to as “bricks and walls,” are ill-equipped to handle the influx of patients. Thousands of women, newborns, and accident victims die due to the lack of timely medical intervention. Medical colleges in Srinagar and Jammu are overcrowded, with multiple patients sharing a single bed in emergency wards. Junior doctors work tirelessly, often for more than four hours at a stretch, to manage the overwhelming patient load in outpatient departments (OPDs). Patients with critical conditions like kidney failure and cancer face months-long waits for treatment.
Recent Examples of Systemic Failure
In January 2024, a pregnant woman in the remote village of Marwah, Kishtwar, was forced to travel over 50 kilometers on a makeshift stretcher during heavy snowfall to reach the nearest hospital. Tragically, she lost her baby en route due to the lack of timely medical care. Similarly, in February 2024, a cancer patient in Anantnag district died while waiting for chemotherapy, as the district hospital lacked the necessary equipment and specialists.
The Need for Immediate Reforms
The healthcare system in Jammu and Kashmir requires urgent reforms. Key measures include:
1. Upgrading Infrastructure: Equip district hospitals and public health centers with advanced medical machinery and ensure they are functional year-round, even in harsh weather conditions.
2. Human Resource Allocation: Mandate that newly graduated doctors serve in rural areas for at least a decade to address the shortage of medical professionals in remote regions.
3. Depoliticization of Healthcare: Remove political interference from the health department and focus on result-oriented policies.
4. Streamlined Recruitment: Expedite the recruitment process for doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff to bridge the doctor-patient ratio gap.
5. Ethical Practices: Crack down on unethical practices, such as the overprescription of drugs and the sale of spurious medicines, which further erode public trust in the healthcare system.
A Call for Accountability
While doctors must uphold their oath to serve humanity, the public must also recognize the challenges they face. Frequent incidents of violence against healthcare workers, damage to hospital property, and scuffles between patients and doctors only worsen the situation. A collaborative approach is needed to restore trust and functionality to the healthcare system.
Conclusion
The healthcare crisis in Jammu and Kashmir is a reflection of systemic neglect and institutional failure. While infrastructural development is essential, it must be accompanied by policy reforms, ethical practices, and a commitment to serving the most vulnerable. The government must move beyond hollow slogans and take concrete steps to ensure that every citizen, regardless of their location, has access to quality healthcare. Only then can the vision of a healthy and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir be realized.
(The author is a freelance writer and columnist from Bunjwah, Kishtwar. He can be reached at freelancershafqat@gmail.com, 9419974577)
