CHC Pattan Faces Acute Staff Shortage, Patients Bear the Brunt

Shabroz Malik

Pattan | April 23: Community Health Centre (CHC) in Pattan is facing a severe shortage of medical staff and essential facilities, causing significant hardship for patients across the area.

Several key specialist positions have remained vacant for years, including Consultant Surgery, Consultant Anesthesia, and Consultant Pediatrics. Following the transfer of existing doctors, no replacements have been appointed, further straining healthcare services for the local population.

The shortage is not limited to doctors. Multiple paramedical posts are also lying vacant, including three pharmacists, two head pharmacists, one supervisor, a senior X-ray technician, a junior X-ray technician, and a basic health worker.

Additionally, two Medical Officer posts at Palhalan and Gund Khawaja Qasim have remained unfilled after recent transfers, leaving adjoining areas underserved.

Despite having seven surgeons, including four from the gynecology department, the hospital has only one anesthesiologist. This imbalance has severely impacted the number of surgeries being conducted. Residents note that other hospitals have multiple anesthesia specialists and suggest deputation to CHC Pattan, but no such measures have been taken so far.

Located along the National Highway 1—an accident-prone stretch—CHC Pattan lacks adequate emergency and surgical support, raising serious concerns among locals.

Moreover, a dialysis centre installed at the hospital remains non-functional due to the absence of a proper water supply and a trained dialysis technician.

Residents have urged Manoj Sinha and Omar Abdullah to personally intervene and address the crisis at the earliest.