Despite significant investments and upgrades to Kashmir’s tertiary care hospitals, they remain overwhelmed with patient load, leaving thousands waiting for months for surgical procedures. Patients continue to suffer prolonged pain and uncertainty, reflecting deeper systemic stress in the region’s healthcare system.
Last month, Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, a 60-year-old resident of Srinagar, was admitted to the emergency surgical ward at SMHS Hospital with appendicitis. After initial treatment, he was given a surgery date for February 17, 2026 a wait of over four months.
“The delayed surgeries are worsening the condition of patients. There should be some priority for those in pain, as long delays can turn fatal,” said Bhat’s attendant. “This is becoming the norm in our public hospitals, and it’s deeply unfair.”
He said the situation reflects a growing crisis in Kashmir’s healthcare system, with overburdened doctors, limited infrastructure, and swelling patient numbers pushing hospitals to their limits.
A similar case unfolded three weeks ago when Altaf Ahmad, an elderly patient from Pattan, was referred from SMHS to Super Speciality Hospital (SSH) with severe prostate issues and abdominal pain. He, too, was given a long surgery date.
“Such patients should be given priority. The doctor said the condition isn’t critical, but the pain doesn’t let me sleep. I can’t afford treatment in a private hospital,” he said.
The waiting lists in government hospitals stretch for months and sometimes more. The reasons are many a shortage of operation theatres, limited staff, and an ever-growing influx of patients from remote districts.
Health experts say these long waits often worsen patients’ conditions, making surgeries riskier when they finally happen. “A non-urgent case today can become an emergency tomorrow,” one specialist noted.
The situation has sparked public outrage, with many questioning the efficacy of recent healthcare reforms and the allocation of resources. Patients and their families are calling for immediate interventions to address the systemic issues plaguing the healthcare system.
As the healthcare crisis deepens, the residents of Kashmir continue to endure unnecessary suffering, awaiting timely medical intervention.
