Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar Jan 28: Scores of patients, including those from the underprivileged section, visiting Associated Hospital Government Medical College Baramulla alleged that they are being forced to purchase drugs from the market due to insufficient stock of medicine, while the hospital administration denied any shortage of medicine.
Patient at the associated hospital said that they are facing immense hardships because of non -availability of emergency drugs and disposals in the hospital. “My wife was admitted in the emergency ward of the hospital with MRD No. 708567 as she complained of hypertension which had gone up to 160/120. But during her treatment, the hospital authorities asked us to purchase emergency drugs from outside,” said Manzoor Ahmad Shah, a resident of Baramulla.
He added: “Not only drugs, but we are also asked to purchase disposable syringes and other prescribed drugs from the market”.
Ghulam Mohammad, one of the attendants in the hospital said “Government is claiming of improving patient care in hospitals but contrary to it, the hospitals sans the basic facilities.”
Officials at the hospital, however, blamed the J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL) for sending inadequate supplies to the hospital, including emergency medicines. “They never give us required supply of medicine and that why some patients have been diverted to the market to buy medicine. Otherwise, we have stock available here,” an official said.
Officials said that antibiotic medicines, pain killers, and normal saline and even basic medical equipment like 10-ml syringes are not available in sufficient quantity in the hospital.
The patients also complained that they do not get the desired medical care after dusk as a less-experienced staff is deputed for night hours. “The students are usually asked to perform night duty without having any experience. By doing so, they are risking the lives of patients,” he said.
Medical Superintendent Associated Hospital Medical College, Baramulla, Syed Masood, denied that the hospital was facing any shortage. “All the claims are baseless. There is no shortage, patient care is running smoothly,” he said.
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