Anantnag, April 24, KDC: The alleged diversion of poor pregnant women from government health facilities to private nursing homes in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district continues unchecked, sources said on Friday.
According to sources, several women referred from Government Sub-District Hospitals and Primary Health Centers to Maternity and Child Care Hospital (MCCH) Anantnag were instead routed by to private nursing homes. The practice, they claim, has been ongoing and largely unchecked.
Sources further alleged that doctors and paramedics create panic among expecting mothers by highlighting inadequate facilities at MCCH Anantnag, prompting them to seek treatment at private nursing homes.
In a recent development, sources said that two pregnant ladies were referred to MCH Anantnag from a SDH but both were routed to a private nursing home.
In another development, officials found crucial data linked to Pregnant women missing in a government hospital.
The situation is compounded by the fact that the maternity hospital continues to function from a building declared unsafe in year 2014.
Last year, Omar Abdullah government had promised and proposed construction of a new hospital building, with a Detailed Project Report (DPR) worth ₹86.5 crore submitted for approval under the NABARD Rural Infrastructure Development Fund. However, the Finance Department returned the proposal, seeking clarity on alternative funding sources and inclusion of furnishing costs.
This year the government informed house that Rs 5 crore has been allocated under the 2025–26 CAPEX Budget, and the project is expected to be proposed under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme in 2026–27.
Assembly was informed that the land has been identified within the premises of Mirza Afzal Beg Memorial (MAMB) Hospital, Government Medical College Anantnag, for relocation of the facility. While the paediatric unit has been shifted to MAMB, gynaecology and obstetrics services continue to operate from the Sherbagh building.
The hospital has long faced criticism over space constraints and safety risks. Earlier attempts to relocate services to Rehmat-e-Alam Hospital at KP Road were abandoned after experts declared the structure unsuitable for hospital use.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Anantnag, Dr Khalid, when contacted, told news agency Kashmir Dot Com that all sub-district hospitals carry out patient treatment, but in some cases, high-risk patients are referred to MCH Anantnag for specialised care.
On the alleged diversion of patients from government hospitals to private facilities, the CMO admitted that he has received such verbal complaints and that patient movements are being monitored. However, he added that if a patient chooses to go to a private hospital on their own, “we can’t do anything.”
He, however, said that efforts are underway to devise a foolproof system to ensure that patients referred from hospitals actually reach MCH Anantnag.
The CMO further stated that strict legal action will be taken against touts involved in diverting patients from government hospitals to private nursing homes, if such instances come to notice and are backed by evidence.
He also said that he conducts surprise checks at hospitals and confirmed that a probe has been ordered into the missing data at SDH Achabal.
“The matter is being enquired into, and we have seized some tickets,” he added. (KDC)
