Govt closes orthopaedic clinics at five hospitals

The government has closed the orthopaedic clinics at five district and sub district hospitals, which were started after the fire incident at Bone and Joint hospital in Srinagar.

In March this year, round-the-clock Orthopaedic Clinics at five hospitals which includes Sub District Hospital, Sopore, District Hospital Kulgam, District Hospital Kupwara, District Hospital Pulwama and JLNM Hospital in Rainawari were started so that patients won’t suffer due to fire incident at B&J hospital.

But according to the senior health officials, the closure of these orthopaedic clinics will affect the flow of surgeries conducted at B&J hospital and other district hospitals.

The officials said that over 18000 patients have been received in the OPDs, over 300 in IPDs even as over 1100 surgeries, including over 100 major surgeries, were also conducted across Orthopaedic Clinics in these months.

“The closure of the orthopaedic clinics will again put a burden on tertiary care hospitals in Srinagar. Besides, surgeries which were conducted at these hospitals have come to a halt,” the official in the health department said.

He said that specialized orthoapedic procedures were earlier conducted at tertiary care orthopaedic centres of Kashmir and are now possible at peripheral hospitals only because of the decision taken by the Director Health of pooling the staff and making the orthopaedic services available at 5 hospitals of Directorate Health Services Kashmir round the clock without a break.

“The B&J hospital building is now fully operational and keeping in view of that, the department has sent back these doctors and closed the clinics,” officials said.

According to officials, about 4300 patients were received at Sub District Hospital, Sopore’s Orthopaedic OPD, 55 in IPD, while 25 major surgeries along with 55 minor surgeries were also conducted.

At DH Kulgam, 3250 patients were received in the OPD, 50 in IPD, while 33 major surgeries along with 50 minor surgeries were also conducted.

Similarly, at DH Kupwara, 3200 patients were received in the OPD, 75 in IPD, while 12 major surgeries along with 520 minor surgeries were carried out.

At DH Pulwama, so far, 4106 patients were received in the OPD, 41 in the IPD while 31 major surgeries—including one spine surgery—along with 370 minor surgeries have been conducted.

At JLNM Hospital, 3357 patients were received in the OPD, 80 in IPD while 27 major surgeries along with 30 minor surgeries were also conducted.

The Bone and Joint Hospital (B&J) at Barzulla receives at least 500 patients with bone and joint problems and 40 to 45 accident cases every day. Rising Kashmir