Don’t impose highway restrictions on medical fraternity, patients, ambulances: DAK

Srinagar: While calling national highway as lifeline for Kashmir, the only road connecting rural network of hospitals with tertiary care hospitals, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) today demanded exclusion of medical fraternity and patients from such restrictions.

“The government order to close national highway for civilian movement on Wednesdays and Sundays is invariably going to jeopardize the patient care and will increase morbidity and mortality in patients,” said president DAK, Dr Suhail Naik.

Dr Naik added that it will be difficult for referred patient to reach to tertiary care hospitals in Srinagar Hospitals i.e, SMHS or SKIMS, Soura from districts sorrounding the Srinagar.

General Secretary DAK Dr Owais H Dar said national highway is not only for civilian movement but a life line connecting different hospitals of Kashmir. “How can a sick patient from Banihal reach to Medical college Anantnag while such restrictions will be in place. We appeal administration to exclude medical fraternity and patients from such restrictions,” Dr Owais said.

Jammu and Kashmir Doctors coordination Committee JKDCC convenor, Dr Mohammad Yousuf Tak has appealed government to provide full time accommodation to medical employees inside hospital premises.

“It is very hard and difficult for our employees to reach and attend their duties while such restrictions will be imposed on national highway. Majority of our rural health care hospitals don’t have accomodation and is taking heavy brunt on employees,” Dr Mohammad Yousuf Tak said.

“We appeal government to accommodate health employees with respects to their dignity, including their privacy, confidentiality, comfort and autonomy,” he added.