Ganderbal, Oct 24, KNT: A 100-bedded Maternity and Child Care Hospital in the Kangan area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district remains unopened despite being fully completed several months ago. The hospital, built to strengthen maternal and child healthcare services in the region, continues to await formal inauguration.
Constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 27 crore, the hospital was envisioned to ease pressure on Srinagar’s major hospitals, where most maternity cases from Kangan are still referred. Locals said they had hoped the new facility would transform healthcare access by providing specialized maternity and pediatric care closer to home.
According to officials, the hospital building stands ready for use, yet certain essential installations and staffing procedures have not been finalized. MLA Kangan, Mian Mehr Ali, had visited the facility on August 30 this year along with Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Jahangir Bakhshi, to review the project. During the visit, the MLA had assured that the hospital would be inaugurated within two weeks. However, nearly two months later, no formal inauguration has taken place.
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Sources told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that heating arrangements are still incomplete, and staff deployment remains pending. “The hospital requires around 149 medical and paramedical personnel, including gynecologists, pediatricians, and anesthesiologists,” a senior health official said, adding that a detailed requisition has already been submitted to the government.
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Work on the hospital had commenced in 2014 during the coalition government of the National Conference and Congress. Locals have expressed frustration over the delay, calling it a setback to healthcare delivery in the area. “The hospital was meant to reduce referrals to Srinagar, but it still lies closed while women continue to travel long distances for delivery cases,” said a local from Kangan.
Chief Medical Officer Ganderbal, Dr Bashir Ahmad Khan, confirmed that only minor works remain pending, but did not specify a timeline for the heating installation or staff postings. [KNT]
