Absence of basic health service deflates Modi’s development mantra in IIOJK
Over 8 lakh people of Kupwara without MRI facility
Srinagar: More than eight lakh people in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district continue to remain without an MRI facility, forcing patients to travel to Srinagar and neighbouring districts for specialised diagnostic services, exposing gaps in healthcare infrastructure despite New Delhi’s tall claims of development.
According to Kashmir Media Service, residents said patients requiring MRI scans for accurate diagnosis and treatment face delays, long journeys and additional financial burdens. The situation is particularly difficult for people from remote and snowbound areas, including Karnah, Keran, Machil, Budnamal, Jumagand and Kumkadi.
A resident, Abdul Ahad, said patients from these areas often have to travel to Srinagar for MRI examinations, a journey that can take several days. He said staying in Srinagar for diagnostic tests and subsequent consultations places an additional financial burden on economically disadvantaged families.
Another resident, Irfan Ahmad, said the absence of the facility had left people feeling neglected and isolated. He urged the authorities to establish an MRI unit in the district and address the growing healthcare needs of the population.
Doctors have also expressed concern over the lack of advanced diagnostic facilities. A radiologist posted at a hospital in Kupwara said MRI scans are essential for diagnosing various neurological, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular conditions, adding that the absence of such services makes timely and accurate treatment difficult.
Residents have urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Health Department to establish an MRI facility in Kupwara to reduce the hardships faced by patients and their attendants.
Peoples Conference chairman and Handwara MLA Sajad Gani Lone said the issue had been raised several times in the Legislative Assembly since 2024, but the facility was yet to be established. He said an MRI unit should be made available not only at GMC Handwara but also at Sub-District Hospital Kupwara.
The continued absence of such a basic specialised diagnostic facility for a population exceeding eight lakh, particularly in a strategically and geographically sensitive frontier district, has raised questions over the government’s development priorities and the quality of healthcare available to people in the occupied territory.
