Bandipora, July 5 (KNS): Healthcare at the District Hospital Bandipora is reportedly on the brink of collapse, with essential services being managed almost entirely by interns and volunteers, particularly after 4 PM.

The alarming state of affairs has triggered public outrage and raised serious questions about the role of lobbying and administrative apathy in the functioning of this key medical institution.

Locals describe a grim situation wherein, beyond regular working hours, patients are left at the mercy of untrained hands.

Locals said the emergency ward, which should be a pillar of life-saving care, is said to be largely handled by volunteers, with little to no presence of qualified professionals.
“Crucial diagnostic services like X-Ray and ECG are also being run by interns and volunteers, often without proper supervision—heightening the risk to patient safety,” they added.

The Minor Operation Theatre (MOT) is no exception. Interns are reportedly attending to accident victims and emergency cases, raising deep ethical and procedural concerns.
“Even the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU), which demands highly trained staff for fragile newborns, are reported to be functioning under similar constraints, relying heavily on volunteers with questionable credentials”.

Further compounding the crisis is the glaring absence of female ECG technicians, which has resulted in numerous women patients leaving the hospital untreated or turning to private clinics for basic diagnostic services. This gender-specific gap in services is deeply troubling, especially in a conservative society where female patients often hesitate to seek diagnostic care from male staff.

In a place where cultural sensitivities play a significant role in healthcare access, this gap has left a deep dent in public trust.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

Locals said Hospital decorum, too, appears to have disintegrated. There is no enforced dress code, making it nearly impossible for patients to distinguish between medical staff and civilians.

Doctors and paramedics are often seen without white coats or uniforms, while the premises have increasingly become a backdrop for interns shooting videos and creating social media content—raising serious concerns about privacy and professionalism within hospital grounds.

Locals allege that unchecked lobbying and favouritism dominate staff postings and operations at the hospital. Despite years of voluntary service, some contributors are repeatedly sidelined during recruitment, while individuals with influence are favoured for key roles—regardless of merit or training.

“After 4 PM, it feels like the hospital is abandoned. There is no system, no responsibility, and no fear of accountability.

The poor are suffering the most,” said a resident whose elderly mother was recently denied proper emergency care.
In light of the worsening conditions, citizens and civil society organisations have called on the Health Department and district administration to take immediate action.

They are demanding a high-level probe into the hospital’s functioning, particularly its deteriorating services during non-working hours, like referring patients to Srinagar hospitals, and urgent steps to restore basic standards in public healthcare delivery.
Unless swift intervention is ensured, District Hospital Bandipora risks becoming a grim symbol of broken promises—where the most vulnerable are left to suffer in silence amid an atmosphere of neglect, indiscipline, and systemic failure.(KNS)