WE THE PEOPLE
125 Bedded Anantnag District Hospital Presents Mixed Picture of Hope and Despar
Hence People urge Govt., to get Work on additional Block expedited to meet growing demands of Patients
By: MNS/Makhdoomi
Srinagar: In our continued Survey of Hospitals in Kashmir valley, we visited Anantnag District Hospital also known as Mirza Afzal Beigh Memorial Hospita, whichl is the prominent health care facility in the South Kashmir .This hospital caters to the needs of more than two million people of the area. The hospital is located at a distance of 1 kilometer from proper Anantnag in the Janglatmandi area. The place is 56 kilometers away from the summer capital Srinagar.
The hospital presents a mix bag of positivity and negativity. On the positive side of the spectrum, the hospital has current bed strength of about 125 beds. Although this might seem insufficient, but reportedly more than 350 beds are being added to the existing bed strength as the new hospital building is about to be completed. This building is adjacent to the existing hospital building. After completion of new building, the work for which is on in full swing, the Anantnag District Hospital would be among the hospitals with highest bed strengths in our part of the world.
Abul Rehman, a patient attendant said, "The current bed strength of the hospital is insufficient considering the heavy flow of the patients. But very soon our Anantnag District Hospital would have very impressive bed strength and would be among the hospitals with highest bed strengths in our region."
The other positive facet about the working of the hospital is that the flow of patients is managed in a better way as compared to other rural hospitals of the Kashmir valley. The patients in the inpatient Department are provided some free drugs but very little in number. The doctors by and large report to their respective duties on time. The parking facility provided to the vehicles is also spacious. There is also a small garden in front of the hospital wherein the patients and their attendants can have a welcome rest for some time.
Mudasir Jabbar, a patient said, "The doctors in our hospital report to duties on time. There is also better regulation of patients here as compared to other healthcare facilities in our part of the world. The parking facility in the hospital is also quite excellent. The patients who are admitted are provided very few free drugs. I believe there are some positives in this hospital that definitely deserve attention."
This is just one side of the story. On the other side of the spectrum, there are several grey facets that define the function of Anantnag District Hospital. The overall cleanliness and sanitation of this District hospital is not up to the mark. The OPD section is especially unclean and one is welcomed by unclean corridors and very dirty bathrooms in this section. On the other hand, the cleanness and sanitation related facilities are slightly better in the In Patient Department.
Ajaz Gulzar,a patient attendant said, "The cleanness in the hospital is far from being impressive. The sanitation related facilities are below standard. The majorities of the bathrooms of the Anantnag -district hospital are also unclean and present a shameful picture.
Realities prove that Anantnag District Hospital currently presents a mixed picture of hope and despair.(To be continued)
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