Pulwama, Oct 23 (KNO): The residents of Litter area in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district have urged the authorities to upgrade the Primary Health Centre (PHC) to a Sub-District Hospital (SDH), citing growing population, increased patient load, and lack of specialist medical services as the main reasons behind their long-pending demand.
Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), locals said the PHC, which caters to a large population from Litter and its adjoining villages, is struggling to meet the healthcare needs of the people due to inadequate infrastructure and shortage of staff.
“The PHC at Litter was established decades ago, and since then, the population it serves has multiplied several times,” said Abdul Rashid Dar, a local resident. “The daily outpatient attendance has gone up drastically, but the number of doctors and facilities has remained the same. Patients often have to wait for hours to get treatment.”
Residents said the facility currently caters to a population much higher than what is prescribed under the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) for a PHC. “Given the growing demand, this hospital deserves to be upgraded to a Sub-District Hospital,” said Mohammad Ashraf, another local. “It will not only reduce the referral burden on other hospitals but also save time and lives during emergencies.”
Locals complained that the PHC lacks essential services forcing patients to travel long distances to other hospitals in Pulwama or Anantnag. “Pregnant women and critically ill patients are the worst sufferers,” said Shabnum Jan, a resident. “At times, we have to rush patients to Pulwama, which is around 20 kilometres away, even for minor complications. In emergencies, the delay can prove fatal.”
The residents have appealed to the District Administration Pulwama and the Health and Medical Education Department to take note of their grievances and initiate steps to upgrade the health centre at the earliest.
They urged local representatives and public health authorities to visit the area and assess the situation firsthand. “Healthcare is a basic right, and people of this region deserve better medical facilities,” said another resident.
If upgraded to an SDH, the locals believe it would not only benefit the people of Litter but also adjoining areas like Lassipora, Panzgam and Naina hamlets improving overall healthcare accessibility in the region—(KNO)