Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 16: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) today said the patients are facing immense hardships due to suspension of mobile phone services in the valley.
Demanding immediate restoration of cell phone services, the DAK president, Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan said the patient care is worst hit and patients suffer the consequences of this snapping. “It is ironical that cell phone services go off during medical emergency. On one hand helpline numbers are provided to the people in view of medical emergency, on the other hand cell phone services are suspended,” he said.
The DAK president said that the sick and wounded are denied access to medical services. “Mobile phone services were suspended on Thursday and internet is blocked for last one week. It is a lifeline in modern age and it is difficult to survive without communication. Under the prevailing circumstances, patients communicate their problems with the doctors on phone,” he said.
The timely facilitation of medicines of critical diseases is done through mobile phones which is life saving, the DAK president said, adding that at times doctors need to discuss problems with other doctors for a better/second opinion and this is done through phone.
“Blocking all communication is a violation of civil liberties which are personal guarantees and freedoms that state cannot abridge. It is dictatorial and unacceptable in a liberal democracy. There is abuse of medical neutrality, which is against humanitarian law, as doctors and paramedics are not allowed to reach hospitals. Even the ambulances ferrying critically injured patients find it difficult to reach hospitals,” he added.
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