Jammu, March 31: Serious concerns over the functioning of District Hospital Kishtwar were raised in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, with MLA Kishtwar Shagun Parihar highlighting multiple shortcomings affecting healthcare delivery in the district.
Speaking in the House, Parihar pointed to a severe shortage of administrative and medical staff, stating that several key posts remain vacant, thereby putting immense pressure on the existing workforce and compromising patient care. She stressed that the understaffing has been a persistent issue, impacting the hospital’s ability to meet the growing healthcare demands of the region.
The legislator also drew attention to the non-functional CT scan machine at the hospital, which, she said, has remained inoperative for over a month. The situation has forced patients to travel to other districts for diagnostic services, leading to delays in treatment and additional financial burden on already distressed families.
District Hospital Kishtwar, the main referral healthcare facility for the mountainous district, has long been grappling with infrastructural and manpower constraints. In the past as well, locals and civil society groups have repeatedly flagged issues such as shortage of specialist doctors, inadequate diagnostic facilities, and delays in maintenance of critical medical equipment.
Despite intermittent government assurances and sporadic upgrades, residents allege that healthcare services have not kept pace with the district’s needs, particularly given its difficult terrain and limited access to advanced medical care.
Reiterating the urgency of the matter, Parihar urged the government to take immediate corrective measures, including filling vacant posts and restoring essential diagnostic services, to ensure that the hospital can effectively serve the people it was established for.
