Staff Shortage at Kupwara Hospital Hampers Patient Care: A Growing Health Crisis

Staff shortage at Kupwara hospital cripples patient care at Trehgam PHC, forcing locals to seek treatment elsewhere and highlighting urgent healthcare gaps.

The Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Trehgam, Kupwara, has served more than 100 villages since 1856. Staff shortage at Kupwara hospital now threatens its very purpose, leaving patients stranded in long queues and increasing reliance on distant facilities.

Kupwara PHC remains critically understaffed more than 150 years after its founding by Maharaja Pratap Singh. Today, only one doctor handles the entire outpatient department (OPD), which:

• Sees hundreds of patients daily
• Lacks specialist support for common ailments
• Forces many to wait hours for basic consultation

Consequently, patient care in Kupwara suffers, and families must travel to Sub District Hospital (SDH), Kupwara, or pay for private consultations to get timely treatment.

The doctor shortage in Kashmir has several ripple effects:

1. Delayed Diagnosis: Without enough medical personnel, conditions that require early intervention—like infections or fractures—often go unnoticed.
2. Overworked Staff: The lone doctor on duty faces burnout, increasing the risk of misdiagnosis.
3. Patient Frustration: Long waits and referrals lead to reduced trust in local healthcare facilities in Kupwara.

Moreover, villagers say the gap in medical staff has turned routine visits into exhausting ordeals, worsening health outcomes.

Trehgam PHC once stood as a model of rural healthcare under Dogra rule. However, despite being the hub for over a hundred settlements, it remains at the basic PHC level. Residents highlight that:

• The centre has not been elevated to Sub District level
• Infrastructure upgrades never materialized
• Essential equipment often lies unused due to lack of trained staff

This neglect of health infrastructure undermines the centre’s original mandate and overlooks the community’s evolving needs.

Local resident Irfan Malik states, “We have raised the staff shortage at Kupwara hospital with authorities many times, but we only receive empty promises.” To address this crisis, villagers propose:

• Recruiting at least two additional doctors and nurses
• Upgrading Trehgam PHC to Sub District Hospital status
• Regular audits of medical personnel gaps and resource allocation

By acting on these recommendations, officials can restore faith in public health and prevent avoidable complications.

The staff shortage at Kupwara hospital is more than a staffing issue—it’s a threat to regional health security. Immediate recruitment, facility upgrades, and transparent oversight are vital. Stakeholders and readers can help by:

• Sharing this article to raise awareness
• Petitioning local health authorities for accountability
• Volunteering or donating to trusted health NGOs in Kupwara

Act now to ensure every patient in north Kashmir receives timely, quality care.