State Health Department is callously politicized. It has beaten all other departments of the State Administration in favouritism and rank apathy towards the suffering masses in rural areas of the State. Ever since two medical colleges were incepted in the twin-capitals of the state decades back, the question of doctors avoiding posting to rural areas, district hospitals and district healthcare units has been hanging fire. Each Government, when coming to power, made tall claims that it would put an end to favouritism in posting doctors to the rural hospitals. However, after settling down, these claims became hollow and ineffective slogans only to please the masses of people for a while and then come back to square one. One main reason for the phenomenon of doctors remaining glued to posting in premier hospitals in two cities is that many of them are the wards of powerful political personalities with vast political clout. Matrimonial relations among politically influential classes further strengthen this political clout. Therefore, they manage their posting according to their choice. Besides enjoying the comforts of home posting, these blue-eyed doctors reap rich harvests while staying in crowded cities where they can also earn extra by practicing in private clinics after office hours.
The situation in the district hospitals and Health Centres in Chenab valley is abysmal. Despite posts of doctors, radiologists, surgeons, gynecologists and physicians sanctioned in district and rural health centers, most positions remain vacant. Whosoever is posted to these places, manipulates his transfer. We have full information about such vacancies in Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Reasi and other rural hospitals. None in the Department of Health Services cares for the people who suffer for want of medical treatment in these far-flung and remote Health Centres. Even for X-ray and other diagnostics patients are forced to travel a long way to reach the main hospital in Jammu despite the fact that machines and equipment are available but either the radiologist or the operator or the doctor is not available.
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