Baramulla: Health services and patient care are badly hit in the largest health block Sheeri of district Baramulla due to the absence of Block Medical Officer (BMO) from last two months.
Pertinently, Dr. Farooq who was holding the charge of BMO Sheeri retired from his service and since then the post of the BMO is lying vacant in the Sheeri health block.
Locals and people associated with healthcare services have urged health authorities to appoint a permanent BMO for health block Sheeri which spans over Gantamulla to Kalantra, Hajibal to Khaitangan and has jurisdiction over Community Health Centre (CHC) at Chandosa, five Primary Health Centers (PHCs), five NTPHCs, one UPHC and 27 Sub Centers.
They said that the absence of BMO has affected the administrative and financial works in the health institutions of the block.
“With the third wave of Covid-19 pandemic knocking at the doors, it is very important to appoint a permanent BMO in the largest health block of the district Baramulla,” said a health official.
“Patient care has been badly hit as essential medicines for patients with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) couldn’t be purchased from last two months in all the hospitals of the block in the absence of DDO due to which patients face a lot of inconvenience,” said a local, Manzoor Ahmad.
Sarpanchs Sheeri and RKS member of the hospital, Ghulam Rasool Bhat, appealed to the top healthcare officials and district administration to appoint a Block Medical Officer at Sheeri.
Locals also demanded the appointment of a gynecologist surgeon at the Sheeri Hospital. They also asked the hospital authorities to make the operation theatre fully functional at the health facility.
According to the sources, the department has delegated the drawing and disbursing officer (DDO) powers to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Baramulla, who has to look after the health affairs of the entire district. As a result, the hospital staff is left in the lurch as hospital employees including HDF employees have been facing inconvenience in drawing their salaries.
Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad Rather, told Kashmir Images that a proposal has been sent to the government and within a few days the health block Sheeri will get a permanent BMO.
