Srinagar: The Sub-District Hospital (SDH) of Karnah and its associated healthcare centers are grappling with an acute crisis, as a debilitating shortage of specialist doctors and medical staff has left an estimated 100,000 residents in the region without adequate healthcare support.

Despite registering dozens of OPD patients and around 20 emergency cases daily, the hospital currently operates without a single gynaecology specialist, chief specialist, surgeon, general physician, or consultant doctor.

According to KNO, the absence of these critical personnel has severely compromised healthcare delivery, with far-reaching consequences for the local population.

The gravity of the situation is underscored by the fact that, since April 2025, at least 90 pregnant women have been referred to hospitals in the Valley for treatment and care—an arduous journey in itself. Due to the unavailability of a gynaecologist, at least two women are sent to Valley hospitals every day as their treatment cannot be managed locally. The hospital’s operation theatre, too, has become non-functional in the absence of specialist doctors.

A detailed assessment of the Karnah health block reveals a stark reality: out of 31 sanctioned doctor posts, only 12 are filled, leaving 19 vacancies unaddressed. At Tehsil Hospital Tangdhar, only six doctors serve against the requirement of 27. The entire block has 214 sanctioned posts for medical and paramedical staff—including permanent and National Health Mission staff—yet only 83 are filled, with 103 vacant. Since 2015, 22 employees have retired and five have died in service, but their positions remain vacant to this day.

The Karnah health block comprises one sub-district hospital, four primary health centers, five new-type primary health centers, and 29 health sub-centers. Many of these centers are either closed or functioning at a bare minimum due to the chronic staff shortage. Locals shared with KNO that, while medical camps have been organized in recent months to provide some relief, having to wait weeks for such camps—especially in emergencies—poses serious risks and cannot substitute for a permanent solution.

The existing staff is reportedly working under tremendous pressure, clocking up to 160 hours a week—four times the standard workload—leading to concerns about both staff welfare and quality of care. “There are no proper arrangements for us. We bear our own accommodation expenses, and there is no additional compensation for working in this border area, whereas earlier there was a border allowance,” a doctor told KNO.

He added that adequate staffing would allow for a fairer distribution of work and relieve the extraordinary burden on the current team.

The local community has issued an urgent appeal to the Health Department and the government, demanding that all vacant positions be filled, specialist doctors be appointed, border area staff be provided with suitable incentives, and all health centers be made fully functional. Residents stress that this is not just a health crisis but a serious question about governmental priorities.

They warn that, unless swift action is taken, the current neglect could endanger hundreds of precious lives. (KNO)