Suhail Rather

Bandipora, Sept 25 (KNS): The Medical Superintendent, District Hospital Bandipora, has urged district health authorities to ensure strict adherence to the prescribed referral protocol and optimal use of healthcare facilities at the PHC, NTPHC, and AAM levels to prevent unnecessary patient movement to the district hospital.

In a communication addressed to the Chief Medical Officer, Bandipora, the Medical Superintendent said the district hospital is witnessing a “huge flow” of patients from Block Bandipora, including a considerable number who are being referred without following the prescribed referral procedure. The communication stressed that under the National Health Mission (NHM) referral-chain mechanism, patients should first be examined and managed at the appropriate level and referred to higher institutions only when the required services are unavailable or specialist intervention is clinically warranted.

The hospital authorities have also highlighted the availability of laboratory services at peripheral health institutions. PHC Chuntumulla and PHC Ashtangoo have laboratory technicians available, raising the question of why patients are being sent to District Hospital Bandipora for investigations that can be conducted at the PHC level. Such unnecessary referrals not only add to the patient load at DH Bandipora but can also impose an avoidable financial burden on patients, who may have to spend around Rs 100 on travel and related expenses for a test costing only around Rs 20.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

The Medical Superintendent has accordingly called for greater utilisation of available diagnostic and laboratory facilities at PHCs and other peripheral institutions, and urged that patients be managed at the concerned AAM/NTPHC/PHC before referral wherever possible. Referrals should preferably carry a proper referral slip mentioning clinical findings, treatment provided and the specific reason for referral.

The communication further underlines that several basic tests and healthcare services are envisaged to be delivered at AAM, PHC and CHC levels under the NHM healthcare framework, with patients being moved to higher facilities according to their clinical requirements and availability of services. Proper implementation of the referral chain, officials said, can help decongest District Hospital Bandipora, optimise manpower and infrastructure at peripheral facilities, reduce unnecessary travel and strengthen patient care across the district.

The communication has been forwarded to the Mission Director, NHM J&K, Director Health Services Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner Bandipora and Block Medical Officer Bandipora, among others. (KNS)