Author: Nidhi Soni
Publication: http://www.kashmirtimes.com
Date: October 16, 2004
There are only 15 specialised doctors
available for six Kashmiri migrant camps currently operating in Jammu
Division. Catering to a population of over 43000 Kashmiri migrants,
most of the camps either do not have the required number of medical
experts or do not have enough.
Health officials have revealed that
today migrants were suffering from acute stress related diseases.
Due to their displaced status both men and women in equal number
are becoming a victim of gastric ulcers, psychiatric problems, blood
pressure etc. Despite the will of the health authorities to provide
them with adequate treatment, they are unable to do so due to lack
of specialised doctors.
Data reveals that each doctor caters
to atleast 30-40 patients in a migrant camp. This is because the
number of doctors are phenomenally lesser than the required number.
Medical records reveal that Nagrota migrant camp has only four doctors
which includes one orthopedics, Muthi-I has five including a dental
surgeon, Muthi-II has three, including an orthopedicians, Palora-I
has no specialized doctors but five assistant surgeons, Palhora -II
with only three doctors and no specialized hand, Mishriwallah-I has
four doctors including one dental surgeon, Mishriwallah-II has only
three doctors and no specialist.
It is most surprising that migrant
camps at Udhampur, Kathua have only one doctor and CPWD has none
at all.
When questioned Chief Medical Officer,
Vijay Gupta about the issue, he stated that since the three mentioned
areas were near Jammu Division there was no need to deploy as many
doctors. "The patients can come to Jammu government hospitals if
they require assistance. We any way do not have the required strength
of doctors and deploying the available ones at these areas would
not be reasonable."
It may be noted here that the displaced
currently residing in migrant camps are deprived of basic living
conditions and are not well off to arrange for good medical treatment.
Their each visit to Jammu for health purposes is something they cannot
afford and they do not have the facility of an ambulance in case
of emergency.
But the Medical Officer does not
agree to the fact. He stresses that Jammu is not out of reach and
migrants can easily afford to visit a government hospital. On the
issue of non-availability of an ambulance, the official stated that
the department does not own one since it's under the control of the
camp commander.
But it's not just the question of
non availability of doctors in migrant camps. Today the condition
is such that despite the will of the Health Directorate to provide
diagnostic facilities to the migrants they are unable to do so due
to lack of funds and infrastructure.
Surprisingly, the Health Directorate
has not received funds for the current year and is dependent on last
year's grant .As a result neither can the department erect diagnostic
facility centre and nor can it purchase medical equipments like dental
equipment, laboratory, freezers, stationary etc.
Although the department claims that
they have written to the concerned authorities to provide them with
the required material but as for now, the material has not reached
the department.