50-bed hospital coming up under SDP
Suhail Bhat
ZANSKAR, Oct 3: Residents of Zanskar region in the Union Territory of Ladakh are forced to traverse hundreds of kilometres across challenging terrain for surgeries due to the inadequacy of staff and surgical facilities at the local health centre.
The Zanskar sub-division, with nearly 25 scattered villages amidst the Greater Himalayas, relies heavily on the lone Community Health Centre (CHC) in Padum, which caters to approximately 13,000 inhabitants. Despite the region’s remoteness, the healthcare facilities fall significantly short of meeting the population’s needs, given the rugged topography and extreme climatic conditions.
Local residents expressed their anguish at having to undertake perilous journeys, covering approximately 250 kilometres to Kargil or 300 kilometres to Leh, even for minor surgical procedures. This dire situation arises from the absence of essential facilities such as a functioning theatre and a blood bank within the existing health centre.
Ghulam Rasool, a resident of Old Padum, vividly recalled his ordeal when he had to transport his expectant wife to Kargil due to the health centre’s inability to perform the necessary surgery. “I had to navigate treacherous roads from Padum to Kargil during the night, an experience etched in my memory,” he said.
The healthcare challenges escalate during the harsh winters, as the extreme cold forces most doctors and staff to leave the hospital when temperatures plummet to nearly -30 degrees Celsius. “We are left to the mercy of God during the winter,” Rasool said.
Pema, another resident, highlighted the woeful dental facilities at the hospital. “I have visited the hospital multiple times but have failed to receive treatment for my dental issues,” she said. Pema emphasises the necessity for the government to provide comprehensive healthcare facilities, taking into account the region’s remote location.
While acknowledging the dearth of healthcare facilities in Zanskar, a senior health official disclosed plans to address the infrastructural inadequacies through a special development plan. “We have received approval for a 50-bed hospital, and the detailed project report is currently in progress. Construction will commence upon its completion,” the official said.
He added that a blood bank, along with the necessary staff, has been sanctioned. “The hospital is equipped with all essential diagnostic facilities and a 100-LPM oxygen plant,” he said, adding that the recruitment of a permanent dental surgeon is imminent.
Addressing the issue of doctor availability during the winter, the official said that the ongoing construction of staff quarters will provide doctors with adequate facilities to stay warm during the severe cold. “Simultaneously, construction is underway for an additional 20-bed block to alleviate infrastructural deficiencies,” he said.
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