After nearly two decades of waiting, residents of Qaimoh and adjoining areas in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district finally have access to a Sub-District Hospital, bringing relief to a population of around 1.21 lakh that has long depended on a Primary Health Centre for healthcare services.
The Sub-District Hospital (SDH) at Qaimoh was inaugurated on Saturday by Education and Health Minister Sakeena Masood Itoo in the presence of MLA Qaimoh Peerzada Feroze Ahmad, Deputy Commissioner Kulgam Shahzad Aalam and senior officers of the Health Department, besides a large number of local residents.
For residents, the opening of the hospital is more than just the completion of an infrastructure project; it represents the fulfilment of a long-standing demand for better and more accessible healthcare.
The project was sanctioned in 2008-09 at an estimated cost of Rs 19.32 crore under the Prime Minister’s Development Programme (PMDP), following a commitment made by the then Chief Minister in 2007 and its subsequent endorsement by the District Development Board.
Despite being sanctioned nearly 18 years ago, the project remained incomplete for a prolonged period. During this time, the Primary Health Centre (PHC) Qaimoh, which has been functioning since 1976, continued to cater to a large population.
According to the feasibility report, PHC Qaimoh serves as a Block Headquarters catering to around 1.21 lakh people through 19 subordinate health institutions, including three PHCs, four NTPHCs and 12 Health and Wellness Centres.
Located centrally, Qaimoh has witnessed a heavy daily patient flow, making the upgradation of the health facility into an SDH a long-standing demand of the people.
Speaking after the inauguration, Education and Health Minister Sakeena Masood Itoo congratulated the people of the area and appreciated the officers and engineers of the Health Department for completing the project.
“I would like to congratulate the people of this area on the inauguration of this hospital. I also appreciate all the officers of the Health Department and the engineers who worked on this project and completed the hospital as quickly as possible,” she said.
Itoo said several meetings were held to ensure that the long-pending project was completed at the earliest.
“We wanted the hospital to be completed at the earliest. The project had been pending for a long time. However, ever since the government was formed under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, we have been making efforts to ensure that the hospital is completed and patients can start receiving treatment here,” she said.
She added that the focus would now be on ensuring that all necessary facilities are made available at the hospital so that patients can receive treatment closer to home.
For local residents, the hospital is expected to reduce the need for patients to travel to Anantnag, particularly during medical emergencies.
Feroz Bhat, President of the Trade Union at the tehsil level, said the inauguration was a moment of happiness for the people of the area, who had faced difficulties in accessing specialised healthcare for years.
“Earlier, if any emergency case came in the evening, whether it was a paediatric, gynaecological or any other medical case, or unfortunately an accident case, patients had to be shifted to Anantnag,” Bhat said.
He said traffic and the distance involved often created additional difficulties for patients and their families.
“Due to traffic and other difficulties on the way, many patients faced serious problems, and unfortunately, some even lost their lives while being taken to the hospital,” he said.
Bhat also thanked the local people who contributed to the project, including those who provided their land, and expressed hope that the new hospital would prevent people from having to undertake long journeys for emergency treatment.
“We also request the Honourable Minister that all the necessary equipment required for the Sub-District Hospital should be installed and made available here at the earliest,” he said.
With the SDH now inaugurated, residents hope the long wait will translate into improved healthcare delivery, emergency services and easier access to treatment for people across Qaimoh and its adjoining areas.
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