Bisma Bhat
Srinagar, Nov 20: The patients at the Primary Health Center Zadibal have been facing a tough time due to unavailability of electricity, with most of them forced to return without undergoing certain pathological tests.
The hospital has been without an alternative power option, as a result of which the staff is unable to do many machine-dependent tests, even at the time of emergencies.
A technician at the health center (name withheld) said, “We do not have round-the-clock electricity. We get electricity till 12 in the afternoon, after which no test can be done.”
Additionally, the technician said, the electricity goes off after every two hours, paralysing the system. “Patients have to wait even in case of emergencies or visit any other hospital. We are helpless, we have asked many times for 24-hour power supply, but nothing has been done about it, so far.”
On an average, 25-30 patients visit the hospital daily.
A patient, Masrat, suffering severe pain in back and abdomen, was asked to visit the next day, as there was no electricity for her urine examination.
“Doctor told me to get the test done, but here they have no electricity. So, I am being asked to return,” she said.
There is also no heating arrangement at the hospital, forcing the in-patients to survive in a cold environment.
Dr Manzoor, a General Physician at the hospital, said there was no heating arrangement even for the staff.“We perform in this cold and the patients suffer as well,” he said.
Dr Nighat, Zonal Medical Officer Zadibal, said, “Electricity problem is seen everywhere, but we will try to arranging an alternative very soon.”
“Our job is to write to the higher authorities. The rest is up to them,” she said.
