Srinagar, Feb 10: The Jammu and Kashmir government has said that District Hospital Bandipora continues to be the designated first referral hospital for patients from the remote Gurez constituency, including those coming from the far-flung Tulail area, despite the presence of a Sub-District Hospital (SDH) at Dawar in Gurez.
The information was shared in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly in response to a starred question tabled by MLA Nazir Ahmad Khan.
Replying to the question, the Health and Medical Education Department confirmed that District Hospital Bandipora functions as the official referral hospital for Gurez as per the existing healthcare referral system.
The government also acknowledged that patients from Tulail, which is located around 150 kilometres away, are referred to Bandipora when advanced treatment is required.
However, the government clarified that patients from Tulail are first examined and treated at SDH Dawar, and only those cases which need specialised or advanced medical care beyond the available facilities are referred to District Hospital Bandipora, following standard referral protocols.
The reply further stated that SDH Dawar has not yet been notified or designated as a First Referral Unit (FRU). At present, the hospital is functioning as a Sub-District Hospital and is providing primary and secondary healthcare services to the population of Gurez and Tulail within its sanctioned infrastructure, manpower and available facilities.
On the demand to designate SDH Dawar as a first referral hospital to reduce hardship for patients, the government said that such a designation depends on the fulfilment of prescribed norms which include the availability of required specialist doctors, adequate infrastructure, essential equipment and support services, as laid down by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
The government maintained that any health facility can be notified as a First Referral Unit only after meeting all laid-down criteria, indicating that SDH Dawar would require further strengthening before such a status can be granted.