Everywhere we go these days in any hospital the walls are covered with QR codes. Posters read “Scan to book an appointment,” “Scan to get your reports,” “Scan to make payments.” I have even heard that some hospitals have stopped taking offline appointments or OPD registrations altogether. We say we are moving toward automation, embracing the Internet of Things, and advancing technology with each passing day.

But have we ever paused to think about those families who can’t even afford to scan a QR code? Those who don’t own a smartphone… the ones who are helpless and poor, so powerless that even the minimal treatment fee at a government hospital is beyond their reach?
The healthcare system in Kashmir is at a crossroad as it is faced with soaring medical expenses, poor performing government programs and a failing infrastructure. The program is inefficient and has rendered many desperate despite the fact that over 90 percent of the families own SEHAT Scheme (Golden Cards) that are supposed to offer free healthcare services. It is estimated that 11 percent of eligible patients opt not to use the scheme because of poor coverage and hurdles in the processes as compared to 7 percent who still face big out-of-pocket expenses. Some of the most important treatments such as cancer chemotherapy have not been included into the insurance benefits thus forcing many families to sell the piece of land or take loans at exorbitant interest rates.
The crisis has been exacerbated by the increasing medical inflation cost. During 2023- 2024, healthcare expenses increased by 6.5-8.2 percent, which is much higher as compared to the overall inflation rate of 4.8 percent. The costs of essential medicines have increased threefold in the last five years and basic heart medication has risen to rupees 3,500 a month almost one-half the salary of an average worker or daily wager. (as per the report by Kashmir Reader)
To add to these financial difficulties is a terrifying infrastructure meltdown. In the region, there are a number of Primary Health Centres and sub-centres which operate without stable supply of electricity or face high power surges and the medical staffs are forced to work under extreme pressure. According to the (Health Policy Watch) Approximately 11.5 per cent of hospitals are inaccessible because of bad road accessibility and frequent power cuts that extend up to eight hours per day from the failure to supply electricity, compel hospitals to use unstable diesel generators. The human resource shortage is also worrisome as out of the 1,677 approved rural medical officer posts only 1,030 are currently staffed.
In the case of the poor families, the disease toll is crippling. Treating a cancer is alone costly by 5 to 20 lakh rupees, and monthly care of chronic diseases like diabetes would mean 1000-3000 rupees per month which is unaffordable to people who earn their daily wages. Surgeries like angioplasty that save lives cost 2-5 lakhs in the private hospitals and even dialysis that costs rupees 2,000-5,000 per session has to be done two to three times a week.
The crisis stands out especially when the subject of inequality is considered. The rural areas are always under-prepared and poorly staffed with their little infrastructure failing to satisfy demand. In the meantime, the (Counter Currents Organisation) reported that the hospitals of Srinagar, which are full of patients, demonstrate an appalling imbalance in access and treatment. Disturbing statistics that 27 percent of children under five are stunted point to the fact that the broken healthcare system in Kashmir is not just a policy crisis but a humanitarian crisis in slow motion.
I do not mean to state that we are on a constant hunt of weaknesses but the fact of the matter is that even when we offer some of the services well, there is always an opportunity to improve. We can identify our weaknesses by realizing our weaknesses and be able to improve. The problems described above are only a handful of headlines collected in newspapers, yet in case one were to witness the little, everyday events that take place in hospitals, they would seem to have a much larger scale and be much more alarming when put together as the effects they have on the healthcare system across the board and the quality of care provided.

Email:---------------------kamranbhatt029@gmail.com