With 12 of the 13 life-saving ventilators lying defunct for nine long months at Government Medical College (GMC), Baramulla, the crisis that has left critical patients gasping for breath reverberated in the autumn session of the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly. The apathy of north Kashmir’s premier health institution has finally echoed in the corridors of power.
“The government is according top priority to the early restoration of all non-functional ventilators and strengthening the maintenance mechanism for critical-care equipment. Our foremost priority is to ensure that critical-care facilities remain fully functional and readily available for patients. The GMC is facing a lot of criticism especially for lack of proper services.
We are taking all necessary measures to strengthen the system, address maintenance-related issues and ensure preparedness to meet any eventuality,” she said. “The hospital doesn’t even have money to buy wheelchairs and trolleys for critical emergencies and nobody pays attention towards it,” said advocate Mudasir Naqashbandi.
Despite promises, the GMC has been deprived of MRI and cath laboratory as assurances were made by the health minister last year.
