PULWAMA — A surprise visit by Minister for Health, Medical Education, School Education, and Higher Education, Sakina Itoo to District Hospital Pulwama on Sunday has stirred an intense discussion about the state of Jammu and Kashmir’s healthcare system, with the minister announcing a major reshuffle of doctors to address systemic deficiencies in patient care, staffing, and hygiene. The surprise visit comes amid public outrage following recent incidents, notably at SMHS Hospital in Srinagar.
Minister Itoo, speaking to reporters, emphasized the urgency of redistributing medical staff to improve patient care. “Doctors have been stationed at the same locations for 5, 10, or even more years. A major reshuffle is absolutely necessary,” she said, noting that doctors posted at one facility for over three or four years would be transferred. “This is essential to strengthen the healthcare system. For instance, if an operation theatre is closed and a patient requiring emergency surgery is shifted elsewhere, lives could be lost. There must be accountability.”
The minister’s visit to Pulwama revealed significant lapses in hospital operations. “I found only 4 out of 40 posted doctors present, despite a high patient turnout, even on a Sunday,” she said. She described the hospital’s conditions as “unhygienic,” with a “bad smell unbearable enough to sicken even a healthy person.”
Itoo stressed that such neglect, observed in multiple facilities including Qazigund Emergency Hospital, demands immediate action. “These habits, developed over the last 10 years, need to change. We must bring the system back on track.”
Dr Abdul Gani Dar, Medical Superintendent of District Hospital Pulwama, provided context for the staffing and hygiene challenges. According to the roster for July 27, 2025, all 14 scheduled staff members—5 postgraduate trainees and 9 doctors—were present, with 4 assigned to the casualty ward.
“On Sundays, the outpatient department is closed, and casualty sees 800 to 1,000 patients, with 2 to 3 patients per bed and multiple attendants in a cramped space,” Dr Abdul Gani explained. He attributed hygiene issues to overcrowding in the undersized casualty ward, noting that sanitation staff clean every 30 minutes but struggle to maintain standards.
The Medical Superintendent pointed out the stalled infrastructure upgrades as a key issue. “A 40-bed extension for the casualty ward was planned, with ₹2.42 crore allocated last year, but the funds lapsed, and no work was done. This year, ₹50 lakh has been released, but progress remains pending.” He called on the elected representatives to expedite the project to alleviate overcrowding and improve conditions.
The minister’s inspections follow public uproar over a doctors’ strike at SMHS Hospital, triggered by an alleged assault on a doctor by a patient’s attendant, which severely disrupted care. Itoo’s visits to JVC Hospital Bemina, SMHS Hospital Srinagar, Emergency Hospital Qazigund, and now District Hospital Pulwama have exposed recurring issues of understaffing, neglected infrastructure, and inadequate emergency preparedness across the Valley’s hospitals.
Under Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s leadership, the government has pledged to overhaul the healthcare system, as per the Health Minister. “We inherited a system with serious deficiencies in infrastructure, staffing, and management,” Itoo said. “But we are committed to ensuring the people of Jammu and Kashmir receive the best possible healthcare.”
She outlined plans to review staff deployment, enhance hospital hygiene, and strengthen emergency care systems to address critical cases, such as blood loss or heart attacks, more effectively.
The likely reshuffle and possible infrastructure upgrades signal an attempt to restore public trust in Jammu and Kashmir’s healthcare system. However, with funding delays and entrenched systemic issues, the path to reform remains challenging. As Dr Abdul Gani noted, “All have to play their role.”
The government’s success will, in practice, depend on planned execution and efficient collaboration between elected officials, hospital administrators, and medical staff to deliver on the promise of better patient care.
