Patients and residents in northern Kashmir have raised serious concerns over non-functional pediatric ventilators, frequent CT scan faults and equipment shortages at Government Medical College Baramulla.
Patients and local residents in northern Kashmir have expressed deep concern over deteriorating medical facilities at the Government Medical College (GMC) Baramulla, citing prolonged equipment failures and critical shortages that affect patient care.
According to available details, 13 out of 14 pediatric ventilators at the hospital have remained non-functional for nearly nine months. The breakdown has been attributed to the unavailability of essential consumables and pending replacement of faulty parts. Medical experts noted that intensive care ventilators are vital for children experiencing severe breathing difficulties or arriving in critical emergencies. With only one pediatric unit operational, hospital staff face immense pressure during critical situations.
Locals have urged authorities to expedite repairs and establish a reliable mechanism to ensure the continuous supply of spare parts and consumables.
Apart from life-support equipment, complaints have emerged regarding basic infrastructure. Out of roughly 135 air conditioning units installed across the facility, 37 are currently out of order, with repairs or replacements still under consideration. Maintaining regulated temperatures in hospital wards is essential for both recovering patients and medical staff.
Residents also flagged recurring technical faults in the hospital’s CT scan machine, which frequently disrupts diagnostic services and forces patients to seek care at alternative medical centers. Concerns were similarly raised regarding substandard X-ray imaging quality, which locals say complicates accurate medical diagnoses for attending physicians.
Families of patients further reported a lack of adequate senior medical coverage during evening and night shifts. Pointing out that emergencies require immediate specialist intervention, they called for the presence of senior doctors around the clock to handle critical cases effectively.
Serving as a primary healthcare hub for Baramulla district and the wider northern Kashmir region, residents have appealed to health authorities to prioritize repairing the non-functional pediatric ventilators, upgrade diagnostic systems, fix faulty cooling units, and ensure round-the-clock specialist staffing.