At Childrens’ Hospital Srinagar, 879 neonates died last year, official data reveals.
The 500 bedded hospital is located in the Bemina area of Srinagar outskirts.
The official data reveals that 28,616 children were admitted to the hospital out of them, 879 died due to different causes including Sepsis, Eosinophils, Rheumatoid factor, Cerebral Atrophy, etc.
The data further reveals that 9153 patients have availed the benefits under the ‘Golden Card’ Scheme.
In response to the application filed by social activist and senior journalist MM Shuja under the Right to Information Act, Childrens’ Hospital Srinagar has admitted that there is a deficiency of gazetted, non-gazetted, and multi-tasking staff.
The cleanliness part of the hospital has also been hit due to the 16 posts of sweepers and jamadars lying vacant.
The total sanctioned strength of the gazetted staff is 21, however, there are only 9 gazetted employees, while 12 are still vacant. All 4 posts of Casualty Medical Officers are lying vacant and since the inauguration of this hospital, no interest has been shown to fill up these 4 vacant posts.
Ironically, there is no Dietician in the hospital which is mandatory for any neonate hospital. Out of 12 gazetted posts that have not been filled up yet include a Deputy Medical Superintendent, 2 RMOs, 4 CMOs, 2 Registrars, 2 Assistant Surgeons, and a dietician.
The official data further reveals that 198 non-gazetted posts are still lying vacant in the hospital. There is no Assistant Accounts Officer, no Accounts Assistants, no Junior Stenographers, no General Store Keepers, no Chief CSSD Technician, no CSSD Supervisor, no CSSD Technician, no CSSD Assistant, no Laundry Supervisors, no Chief X-Ray Technician, no Theater Supervisor, no Senior Theater Assistants, no Chief Anesthesia Supervisor, no Junior Anesthesia Technician, no Anesthesia Assistant, no Chief Laboratory Technician, no Dialysis Technician, no Dialysis Tech Supervisor, no Renal Lab Technician, no Dialysis Assistant, no Endoscopy Gastro Supervisor, no Endoscopy Gastro Assistant, no Endoscopy Gastro Technician, no Hematology, Oncology Assistant, no EEG / EMG Technician, no Microbiology Assistant, no Chief Pharmacist, no Nursing Superintendent, no Health Educator, no STP Operator, no Central Heating Operator, no Telephone Operator etc. The list of posts not filled up yet is very long.