Even as Governments both State and Central have been harping about providing health services for everyone some portions of Jammu and Kashmir remain devoid of the facilities. With more than 30 lakh population and couple of health sub-centres the erstwhile Doda District remains one area of Jammu and Kashmir where no health centre has been sanctioned till date. The residents of these areas even for the basic health check-ups have to travel a long distance. To improve the health facility in the hilly, remote and backward areas around 676 health sub-centres were sanctioned by previous Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad which was a historical and bold decision. The material for the sanctioned sub-centres, salaries of FMPHW has also been released but yet the government failed to open the sanctioned sub-centres in the far flung areas. Now making the sanctioned sub-centres functional is a big question mark for the government. There has been demand for immediate opening and making the sanctioned sub-centres functional so that general public do not face any hardship with regard to health facilities. Poor healthcare services and lack of proper infrastructure in earstwhile Doda District continues to add to the sufferings of the patients. In the vicinity of this area we have three hospitals, District Hospital Doda besides the hospitals at Thathri and Gundoh. However they lack the essential infrastructure. Though District Hospital Doda caters to a huge rush of patients but the other two hospitals lack all the required facilities for the patients. Most of the times one does not find any doctor available even in case of emergencies. The doctors do not perform their duties properly. Patient care has been badly affected in these hospitals. They appealed t0 the government to take steps to improve the system in the hospitals. The district is prone to road mishaps and large number of people die or get injured in road accidents in this area. However due to lack of proper infrastructure they are shifted to Jammu or Srinagar. Many times the patients die on the way, which is very tragic.
