Shopian residents demand staff, equipment at district hospital, threaten hunger strike

The useful part

On Thursday morning, members of civil society and local residents gathered outside District Hospital Shopian, demanding adequate manpower, specialist doctors and essential equipment at the facility. The protesters warned that they would intensify their agitation, including by going on a hunger strike, if the authorities failed to address what they described as persistent deficiencies at the hospital. The hospital was established in 1977 as a Sub-District Hospital (SDH) and was upgraded to a District Hospital after Shopian was granted district status in 2007.

How it works

• "We will go for a hunger strike if the hospital is not provided with all the facilities a district hospital deserves," said Mitha Gatoo, a civil society member.
• Gatoo said the hospital was functioning without several crucial specialists, including a urologist and cardiologist, while other categories of staff were also inadequate.
• He said the shortage was particularly affecting patients requiring diagnostic services.
• Afterwards, the patients have to either visit private diagnostic centres or are referred to Srinagar," Gatoo said.
• The protesters also raised questions over the utilisation of equipment alrea...

Details worth keeping

Despite catering to a population of more than 2.5 lakh, residents said the hospital continues to face shortages of specialist doctors, technical staff and diagnostic facilities, forcing patients to seek treatment outside the district.