4-5 patients die daily
100% increase in deaths at SMSH Hospital since 2010
NL Correspondent
SRINAGAR: Signifying increase in patient rush at one of the Kashmir's tertiary hospitals, four to five people die on an average daily at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh hospital Srinagar.
As many as 1660 deaths were reported at the hospital in 2015-2016, which is almost 100 percent increase in reported deaths since 2010.
As per official figures, 893 deaths were reported in 2010-2011, whose number was 894 in 2011-2012.
During 2012-2013 and 2014-2015, 1389, 1455 patients reportedly died respectively at the hospital during these consecutive years. In the first three months of the current fiscal till June, 395 patients died at the hospital.
The hospital authorities attribute increase in deaths with increase in patient rush. “The hospital is catering to a large number of patients from across the Valley many are often referred to the hospital at critical stages,” Medical Superintendent of the SMHS hospital Dr Nazir Chowdhary said.
The health care system in the Valley especially in Srinagar is largely dependent on the SMHS hospital where around 2500 patients visit to its OPD on an average daily.
As per the official details, around 45 lakh people visited the hospital during the last six-years. As many as 891527 patients visited to SMHS hospital's OPD during 2015-2016. Similarly, the doctors had seen 698988 patients in the hospital's OPD during 2014-2015 and 731014 in 2013-2014.
During the first three months (April, May and June) of the current fiscal 254935 patients visited to the OPD of the hospital.
An official of the hospital said government has failed to lift the health care system in far-flung areas. “Due to lack of proper health care facilities in district hospitals, patient throng to the SMHS hospital for the treatment,” the official said.
In the first four months of the unrest, there was around 70 percent decline in patient inflow who would not reach to the hospital due to prevailing situation.
During these days, normal work of the hospital was also halted to ensure better health care to the injured.
