Srinagar, Oct 15: Patients at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Kashmir capital Srinagar are facing severe inconvenience due to a bizarre system where first-time patients are allowed to consult doctors, but subsequent visits are being delayed by three to four months.
A distressed patient from South Kashmir’s Anantnag district shared her ordeal with Kashmir News Trust. Having visited SKIMS in September, she was prescribed medication for a month and instructed to return for a follow-up. However, upon her return, hospital staff handed her a receipt directing her to revisit after four months.
This issue is not isolated, as numerous patients suffering from various ailments are being asked to wait for extended periods before seeing a doctor. The patients are frustrated and confused by the hospital’s rules and regulations, with one patient expressing that they have never experienced such delays in any other hospital.
“It’s unacceptable,” said a patient, who wished to remain anonymous. “I’ve never experienced such delays in any other hospital. The hospital’s administration must revisit this system to ensure patients receive timely medical attention.”
SKIMS, renowned for its emergency services and diagnostic facilities, including a 24/7 emergency department and advanced imaging technologies, is faltering in its commitment to provide accessible healthcare.
A patient from a far-off area said that the hospital’s administration doesn’t provide any explanation for this system, leaving patients wondering about the reasoning behind such a policy.
Patients urged the hospital authorities to review and revise this system to ensure timely medical care.
“It is essential for SKIMS to address these concerns and provide clarity on their appointment system to prevent further inconvenience to patients,” said a group of attendants.
Efforts to contact hospital authorities didn’t materialize. [KNT]
