Ventilator Woes in Jammu and Kashmir: Over 200 Units Defunct

The Jammu and Kashmir government disclosed that 219 ventilators are currently non-functional across 10 government medical colleges and the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences in the Union Territory. This information came to light during a response to a starred question posed by MLA Shamim Firdous in the Assembly.

Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo provided detailed figures of both functional and non-functional ventilators installed in government medical colleges, associated hospitals, and major health institutions including SKIMS. Out of a total of 877 ventilators, only 658 are operational, as per the official data.

The data specified that GMC Jammu and its associated hospitals have 320 ventilators, with 111 currently non-operational. GMC Srinagar’s SMHS Hospital faces a similar issue, with eight out of 76 not functioning. The troubling figures extended across various regions, including Anantnag, Baramulla, Doda, Kathua, Rajouri, and Udhampur.