Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on February 25 expressed concern over lack of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in Super Specialty Hospital at Shireen Bagh which runs under the administrative control of Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar.

“Non-availability of ICU is costing lives of patients,” DAK President Dr Nisar ul Hassan alleged in a statement issued in Srinagar on February 25. He said it beats logic that a hospital with advanced surgical and medical departments is without an ICU. “A 10-beded ICU is already constructed in the hospital, but is non-functional due to lack of staff,” he added.

Dr Hassan said ICU is life-saving for sick and wounded as it provides critical care for patients with severe or life-threatening illnesses and injuries who require constant care from life-support equipments like ventilators. He said it is recommended that 20 per cent of the total beds in a tertiary care hospital should be ICU beds and more for overflow besides hospitals should have dedicated ICU beds for disasters.

Dr Hassan said how fast intensive care is given to trauma patients determine whether they survive or not. But, he said, “We see them dying for want of critical care.” He said lack of ICU beds is turning into nightmare with critically ill patients being forced to stay in general wards. “Patients succumbing to easily preventable deaths is so sickening that one is left scratching the head for answers. Many vulnerable patients who need monitoring in ICU after operation die for want of critical care,” he said.

He further said even major operations like cancer and cardiac surgeries are put off due to non-availability of critical care beds. “The most important place for an elderly with pneumonia, or a stroke is the ICU- but they are put in general wards, putting their lives at serious risk,” he alleged.