‘Avoid referrals to tertiary care hospitals’
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 22: The Directorate of Health Services Kashmir (DHSK) has directed all the concerned health officials in the districts to mobilize and gear up all the resources well in advance in the wake of what it called early winter to ensure the patients across Kashmir do not face issues.
In this regard, a number of directions have been issued to the concerned aiming to ensure the access of the patients to healthcare services in the winter months, especially when there is snowfall and the connecting roads remain blocked.
All the Chief Medical officers (CMOs), Medical Superintendents, and Block Medical Officers (BMOs) have been directed to mobilize and gear up all resources in advance in terms of doctors, paramedics, availability of drugs in sufficient quantity and other things so that patients won’t face any problems in winter months.
“In view of the early starting of winter (cold weather) in Kashmir Division, all the Chief Medical Officers/Medical Superintendents/ Block Medical Officers are hereby impressed upon to mobilize & gear-up all resources in advance in terms of Doctors, Paramedics, availability of drugs in sufficient quantity, the readiness of fleet of Ambulances, ensuring power backup & arrangements in all Government Health Care Institutions across the valley,” reads a circular issued here by the DHSK.
It said that all the necessary measures are needed to be put in place so that the patients coming to the Health Care Institutions are managed and the referrals to Tertiary Care Hospitals are avoided, especially when all the roads remain cut off during snow in the valley.
The concerned have also been asked to follow the directions already circulated by this Directorate in letter and spirit regarding setting up of Control Rooms at District Headquarters as well as at Block level to manage any eventuality, that may arise and ensure that all the drugs are available in all the hospitals, availability of Doctors & Paramedical staff in the hospital 24×7.
During snowfall, particularly in the far-flung areas, the complaints of non-availability of staff and lack of medicines start pouring, however, this time, the DHSK has asked the concerned to ensure sufficient staff is posted in such areas and the medical supplies are kept up to the mark.
“Further, it may also be ensured that the border /hard-to-reach areas, which remain cut off during winters, have adequate medicines supplies/emergency drugs/oxygen cylinders, to meet any eventuality and also ensure that maximum staff posted there belongs to that area,” the directives issued read.
The officials told Excelsior that the healthcare set up in the peripheries has already begun the preparations and that this winter; the authorities are aiming to minimize the hassles that the people used to face in accessing the healthcare facilities, especially in the winter season.
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