Srinagar, Nov 24: A long-pending demand of residents in Ganderbal district has finally been met, with the administration appointing an ENT specialist at SDH Kangan and a gynaecologist at Trauma Hospital Gund.
The development comes shortly after the issue was raised by MLA Kangan, Mian Mehar Ali, during the Chief Minister’s recent review meeting.
Officials confirmed that the Director Health Services Kashmir acted promptly after the CM’s intervention, facilitating the immediate posting of both specialists in these key healthcare institutions.
Residents in both Kangan and Gund expressed happiness over the move, saying the absence of these essential specialists had caused significant difficulties, especially for patients who previously had to travel to Srinagar for consultations and routine care.
“We are genuinely relieved. For years, we had to rush to Srinagar even for minor ENT-related issues. Now that the specialist is available locally, it will save our time, money and stress,” said Abdul Rashid, a resident of Kangan.
Women in Gund area, in particular, welcomed the posting of a gynaecologist at the Trauma Hospital. “Expecting mothers faced huge challenges during emergencies. Having a dedicated gynaecologist here is a blessing for our community,” said Shabnam Jan, a local resident.
While appreciating the new appointments, locals urged the district administration and higher authorities to fill all remaining vacant posts in the health department to ensure comprehensive healthcare delivery.
“This is a great step, and we thank the CM and our MLA. But several other specialist and paramedical posts are still vacant. We request authorities to expedite recruitment so that patients don’t suffer,” said another resident from Ganderbal.
As per order, Dr Asif ENT specialist has been posted to SDH Kangan and Dr Shabana Salim has been posted to Trauma hospital Gund Ganderbal.
MLA Mian Mehar Ali expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for responding swiftly to the concerns raised in the review meeting. He said he will continue to pursue the strengthening of healthcare infrastructure across the district.
“The CM has been very receptive to public issues. The immediate fulfilment of the request shows the government’s commitment to improving healthcare accessibility in rural areas,” he said.
Health officials said the appointments will significantly reduce patient load on major hospitals in Srinagar and bring specialised care closer to the people.
Locals hope that with continued administrative attention, the district’s health sector—long marred by staff shortages—will soon see comprehensive improvement—(KNO)
