Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Mar 15 : Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo on Saturday informed the Legislative Assembly that the Centre turned down the proposal to set up a trauma hospital at Lawaypora in Srinagar.
Replying to a question of Tariq Hameed Karra, the Health Minister, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that the trauma hospital at Lawaypora Srinagar was conceptualized for strengthening trauma and accidental care along the National Highway. However, the said proposal was not agreed/approved by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
“Presently, a NTPHC is functioning at Lawaypora, Srinagar which is handling the basic emergency cases, stabilizing patients before referring to higher-tier hospitals besides delivering the services like vaccination, minor injuries care and public health campaigns including maternal health initiatives. The trauma & emergency care of the area are being catered by JVC SKIMS Medical College a Tertiary care Health Institution, which is only 8 Kms away from NTPHC Lawaypora,” she said as per KNO.
“The JVC SKIMS Medical College is 360 bedded hospital with 100 beds available for emergency care, GMC Srinagar, another tertiary care institution is 10 Kms away from Lawaypora and 108 ambulance (ALS/BLS) service is operational in the area to cater to emergencies, particularly in accident-prone zones,” she added.
“The hospital building at Lawaypora, Srinagar was taken up for construction during the year 2006-07 under Capex at an estimated cost of Rs. 641.00 lakhs against which an amount of Rs 541.00 lakhs stands utilized with the building structure of G+3 completed during 2014. At present, the said facility is functional as a new type of PHC for providing comprehensive Primary Health care services,” the Minister said, as per KNO.
“The trauma hospital requires specialised manpower like neuro-surgeon, anaesthetist, orthopaedic doctor and other allied support staff besides, high end equipment, modular OTs which can’t be made available at all places and it is necessary to utilize and share resources of adjoining places, where such facilities exist,” Itoo said.
She said that though the proposal for a trauma hospital could not materialize owing to the reasons stated above, the said facility is being utilized as New Type Primary Health Centre (NTPHC) providing comprehensive healthcare services to the general masses. “Further, the building structure can be optimally utilized towards residential accommodation facility for doctors, paramedics, DNB/PG/UG students etc., which shall ensure the availability of doctors/paramedics the said facility in the interest of patient care and for providing drug de-addiction, rehabilitation & counselling services,” she added
