Srinagar, Dec 23: Amid acute space constraints and mounting pressure on existing infrastructure, Principal SKIMS Bemina, Dr Fazlul Q Parray, on Tuesday said that new IPD and OPD blocks at the hospital are likely to become functional by June 26, a move expected to provide major relief to patients and healthcare workers.
Speaking to Greater Kashmir on the sidelines of the inauguration of multiple healthcare facilities at SKIMS Medical College (MC) Bemina, Dr Parray said the hospital has been grappling with a heavy patient load due to limited space.
“Our engineering, medical superintendent and faculty teams are fully on board. June 26 has been set as the deadline, and we are confident that once these new buildings become operational, there will be significant relief in bed availability and patient flow,” he said.
Acknowledging overcrowding, the principal said that some departments are functioning beyond sanctioned capacity, with the gynaecology department recording a bed occupancy rate of 108 per cent.
“Despite these constraints, our doctors, nurses, paramedical and support staff are delivering services under very difficult circumstances,” he said, adding that the high patient footfall reflects public trust in the institution.
Dr Parray made these comments on the sidelines of the inauguration of several new facilities at SKIMS MC Bemina, aimed at improving patient care, including a Paediatric Allergy Laboratory, which is reportedly the ‘first of its kind’ in Jammu and Kashmir. Other facilities inaugurated include a new endoscope lab, a central laboratory, a haemodialysis lab and an anatomy dissection hall.
All inaugurations were performed by the Chief Guest, MLA Gulmarg Farooq Ahmad Shah.
The inaugural programme was hosted by the Department of General Medicine, headed by Dr Tariq A Bhat, while organising secretary Dr Muzaffar A Naik conducted the proceedings and underlined the importance of the newly commissioned facilities for patient welfare. On the occasion, the annual report of SKIMS MC Bemina was also released.
Addressing the gathering, MLA Gulmarg praised the efforts of the principal and his team and assured full support to the institution, saying he would act as an ambassador of goodwill before the government to help ensure that SKIMS MC Bemina’s pressing demands are addressed.