Sachnews Jammu Kashmir
Anantnag, June 20:
Patients and attendants reported long delays due to a shortage of medical staff in the Emergency Department of Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag during the night shift on Thursday.
According to eyewitnesses and patients, although the duty roster mandates the presence of multiple doctors in the Emergency Room, only one doctor was on duty during peak hours. The result has been long waiting periods, even for patients requiring urgent care.
One of the major concerns raised was the delay in conducting Electrocardiogram (ECG) tests — a critical diagnostic tool for cardiac emergencies. Sources said only one employee was assigned to handle ECGs for all patients, significantly slowing the process.
"This situation is extremely frustrating. Patients with serious conditions are being made to wait for long periods. We fear that delays like these could cost lives," said one attendant waiting outside the emergency ward.
When Sachnews Jammu Kashmir contacted Principal GMC Anantnag Dr. Rukhsana Najeeb for her response to the staffing concerns, she abruptly ended the call, stating it was a wrong number.
The apparent lack of adequate staffing and the absence of accountability has sparked criticism from the public, with many urging the Health Department to intervene immediately.