No endoscopy in Budgam hospital from last 3 years

Budgam: Due to the government apathy, not a single endoscopy procedure has been conducted in Aga Syed Yousuf Memorial (ASYM) district hospital from nearly three years.

Hospital sources told Kashmir Images that the endoscopy machine is lying defunct since July, 2015.

They said that thousands of patients could not be treated for gastroenterology related disorders during last 2 years as firstly they were supposed to go through the procedure of endoscopy.

“The Gastroenterology department of the hospital caters to more than 40 patients on daily basis, but the patients who are prescribed endoscopy are referred to other hospitals,” they said.

Locals said that due to lack of endoscopy center in the district hospital, they are left with no option but to visit private clinics for carrying out this important visual medical examination.

Shiraz Ahmar, a patient said that every one cannot afford to go through this diagnosis at private clinics. “We are poor people, we cannot spend thousands at private clinics,” said Shiraz.

Locals, while complaining about the bad healthcare system of the district hospital, told Kashmir Images: “Time and again, we raised this issue with concerned officials, but they have done nothing in this regard so far.”

“Besides lack of endoscopy center, the hospital lacks medical facilities like Digital X-ray, CT-scan, MRI,” they said.

“From central government to the state, every official has visited this hospital, but these visits has never proved beneficial for the hospital,” they added.

When contacted, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr Deeba told Kashmir Images: We have bought a new endoscopy equipment for the hospital and we will start doing the endoscopy examination very soon”.

Abid Hussain