Suhail Rather

Bandipora, Jan 3(KNS): District Hospital Bandipora, the main government healthcare facility catering to thousands of patients across the district, is facing an acute manpower shortage, heavy dependence on outsourced staff and administrative gaps, raising concerns over patient care, sources said.

Despite being a district-level referral hospital, the facility is currently functioning with only one consultant physician, one consultant surgeon, one paediatrician and one pharmacist, hospital sources said.

The hospital has no consultant ophthalmologist, only one orthopaedic consultant, and no ENT specialist, affecting specialised services. It is also operating with two consultant anaesthetists, which health experts said is inadequate to meet surgical and emergency care requirements.

The situation worsened following the retirement of a senior consultant surgeon several months ago, with no replacement posted so far, further straining surgical services, sources said.

Health officials said the existing manpower strength is significantly below prescribed norms for a district hospital, impacting emergency response, inpatient care, diagnostics and access to specialist consultations.

A substantial part of the hospital’s daily operations is being managed by outsourced staff, particularly in the pharmacy, registration counter, X-ray, CT scan, Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) and laboratory sections. What was introduced as a temporary arrangement has continued for an extended period, raising concerns over accountability, training standards and patient safety, sources said.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

Medical interns and volunteers are reportedly handling a significant portion of routine clinical work due to staff shortages. Nursing staff have also flagged excessive workload caused by chronic understaffing, affecting efficiency and morale.

Patients and attendants have complained about the frequent non-availability of essential medicines at the hospital’s drug counter. Common medicines, including paracetamol (PCM) infusion, are often unavailable, forcing patients to purchase drugs from private pharmacies, they said. Some attendants alleged that interns were prescribing or dispensing medicines that did not yield results.

Sources said medicine supplies are being replenished irregularly, pointing to gaps in inventory management and oversight.

Allegations have also emerged regarding dual postings, with some employees reportedly working at other institutions while continuing to draw salaries from District Hospital Bandipora. Sources said weak attendance monitoring has allowed absenteeism to persist.

The hospital has figured repeatedly in public grievance records over the past year, with complaints ranging from overcrowding and delayed diagnostics to shortage of specialists and management issues.

Civil society groups and residents have urged the Health Department to take time-bound steps to fill vacant posts, ensure regular medicine supply, review the outsourcing model and strengthen attendance monitoring, warning that continued gaps could affect healthcare delivery, especially during emergencies.(KNS).