In North Kashmir’s Baramulla district, the main two hospitals that every day caters to hundreds of patients side by side are district hospital, Baramulla, now GMC and sub-district hospital (SDH) Sopore. No doubt, the healthcare at both the institutions is always a priority, yet, under close inspection, the tale of these two hospitals is in stark contrast. The centrally located SDH, Sopore is emerging, undoubtedly, at par with district hospital, Baramulla because this hospital has been catering to a huge chunk of population from Kupwara, Handwara, Rafiabad, Bandipora, and even Tangmarg etc. apart from whole Sopore vicinity. Although Sopore’s SDH doesn’t have a vast infrastructure like Baramulla district hospital, yet, it has been seen over the years that patients give more preference to this hospital than going elsewhere.

Great health infrastructure and top doctors are of little use if no healing takes place. The high patient footfall that doesn’t decline with time; isn’t just something to feel proud of, but a grave concern of deterioration (unrecovery) that all of must ponder over. Patients who treat doctors, next to God, must not at any cost be overlooked and neglected in the hospitals. They must rather be taken good care of and shown some compassion. I must not fear to reveal the truth, that in our district hospital, Baramulla, patients have to bear the brunt, quite often. While at sub-district hospital, Sopore, they are not........

© Greater Kashmir