Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Jan 14 (KNS): Primary Heath Centre Tarzoo in Sopore area of Baramulla district is facing acute shortage of staff which has badly hit patient care at the health facility, locals said here. 

Locals told Kashmir News Service (KNS) that the lack of staff and proper healthcare facilities in this PHC is forcing them to shift patients to SDH Sopore or district hospital even for minor ailments. 

"It becomes very difficult for us to move to other hospitals, particularly in case of emergencies," they added. 

Abdul Subhan Rather, a local resident said that the Lab technician, X-Ray technician and a pharmacist posts are lying vacant, which authorities are not filing up despite repeated requests. 

"Technician who was appointed to this PHC is working somewhere in Kupwara and is drawing salary for the same from this PHC,” he alleged. 

The locals alleged that the authorities are trying to make this PHC defunct so that they can run their private clinics in Sopore town. 

"Nurses were appointed to this PHC but either they have been transferred or have been deputed somewhere else,” they alleged.

Meanwhile, they appealed to deputy commissioner Baramulla to look into the matter and depute sufficient staff to this health centre.

When contacted, block medical officer Sopore, Dr Zulfiqar did not responded to repeated calls from this correspondent. (KNS)