Mohammad Lateef Bhat
Pattan, Feb 02 : The Community Health Centre (CHC) Pattan, located along the accident-prone National Highway, continues to struggle with a shortage of essential medical staff, leading to patient distress.
One of the most pressing issues is the vacancy of specialist doctor positions. Consultant Pediatrician Dr. Suhail Naik, who was promoted to Assistant Professor at GMC Srinagar years ago, has left the position unfilled. Likewise, the post of Consultant Anesthetist remains vacant, severely affecting surgery patients due to the lack of anesthesia specialists. The Consultant Surgeon post, previously held by Dr. Imtiyaz Ahmad Yatoo, has also been left vacant since his transfer last year.
Local resident Shabir Ahmad expressed his concern, emphasizing that the CHC Pattan (Trauma Hospital) building should be upgraded to a District or Maternity Hospital, a long-standing demand from the people of Pattan.
“Such a change would be a significant benefit for the local population. LD Hospital in Srinagar, which caters to patients from North Kashmir, is overwhelmed, and Pattan’s hospital, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, could ease the burden,” he said.
People are stating that for the old hospital to be converted into a Sub-District Hospital to better serve the area’s dozens of villages.
Locals urged the government—specifically LG Manoj Sinha, CM Omar Abdullah, and Health Minister Sakina Ioo—to create posts for a Consultant Ophthalmologist, Consultant Radiologist, Consultant ENT, and Consultant Orthopedic Specialist. These vacancies have left patients from multiple areas of Pattan without critical medical attention.
“The delay in filling these crucial posts is causing significant hardship to the community,” said Nasir Shah, President of the Traders Federation Pattan. “If the health department fails to address these demands, we will be compelled to take peaceful action.
