Bandipora, Jan 24: The District Hospital (DH) Bandipora has imposed a ban on videography and photography within its premises, citing privacy concerns and disruptions to patient care. However, the directive has sparked widespread criticism, with locals accusing the hospital authorities of attempting to cover up mismanagement exposed during MLA Nizamuddin Bhat’s late-night surprise visit.
On Thursday evening, MLA Bandipora conducted a surprise inspection of the hospital, streaming the visit live on social media. According to the Srinagar-based news gathering agency Kashmir Dot Com, he highlighted glaring issues, including the absence of several staff members, including the Medical Superintendent, and criticized the state of healthcare services.
During the live broadcast, the MLA also called Health Minister Sakina Yatoo, expressing his displeasure and demanding immediate action. The live-streamed expose drew widespread attention and raised serious questions about the hospital’s administration.
Later in the evening, in what many view as a counter-move, the hospital authorities facilitated a self-styled Facebook page handler to visit various wards, interact with bedridden patients, and document the facilities. The hospital administration was seen accompanying the handler, sparking outrage among locals who called the act a breach of patient privacy.
Today, many videos also surfaced from inside the hospital showing similar activities, with those capturing the footage being facilitated by the hospital authorities, further fueling public anger and raising serious questions about the hospital’s priorities.
“This ban seems less about protecting patient privacy and more about damage control,” said Mohd Shafi, a local resident. “If privacy was really their concern, why was the Facebook handler allowed to move around the wards and talk to patients with the Medical Superintendent in tow?”
“The hospital administration appears more focused on managing its image than addressing the issues highlighted by the MLA. This ban feels like an attempt to silence further scrutiny,” said Bashir Ahmad, another resident.
The hospital’s official statement justified the ban, stating that unauthorized recording or photography disrupts operations and violates patient confidentiality. It warned that violators would face legal consequences.
Despite this, the directive has done little to pacify public anger. Locals are demanding answers about why the same privacy concerns were not applied during the Facebook handler’s visit and why such measures were not enforced earlier.
“This is not the transparency we expect from a public healthcare facility,” said Iqbal Ahmad, another resident. “The administration needs to fix its priorities and address the actual issues rather than focus on optics.” (KDC)
