Children suffer as SDH Uri lacks full time paediatrician

Idrees Bukhtiyar
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15 Dec 2025

Srinagar, Dec 15: Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Uri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district is grappling with an acute shortage of paediatric services, with just one paediatrician catering to a population of nearly 2.5 lakh in Uri sub-division, causing serious concern among residents. The lone paediatrician, originally posted at SDH Sopore, was attached to SDH Uri a few months ago. However, the doctor is available only three days a week - Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday - leaving the hospital without specialised paediatric care for the rest of the week. Locals said the absence of a full-time paediatrician has put children’s health at risk, particularly during emergencies. “Our children suffer the most. If a child falls sick on any other day, there is no specialist available here,” said Shafiq Bhat, a local of the main town Uri. “We are left with no option but to rush to Baramulla or Srinagar, which is difficult and costly, especially in emergencies.” Mukhtar Ahmad, a local of Garkote village, said the situation is even more challenging for families from remote areas. “Travelling to Baramulla or Srinagar with a sick child is not easy. Poor road connectivity and long distances make it worse, particularly during winters,” he said. Residents pointed out that the burden on SDH Uri has increased as it also caters to children from the Boniyar area, where the Primary Health Centre (PHC) Boniyar does not have a paediatrician. “People from Boniyar also depend on SDH Uri for child healthcare. One doctor for such a huge population is simply not enough,” said Bashir Bhat, a local social activist. The locals have urged the health authorities to immediately post a full-time paediatrician at SDH Uri to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services for children. “We appeal to the government to understand the gravity of the issue and appoint a permanent paediatrician here,” they said. The 60-bedded hospital caters to more than 130 villages in the sub-division Uri, including several habitations along the Line of Control (LoC). Located just a few kilometres from the LoC, SDH Uri has also been handling cases related to cross-border shelling and landmine injuries. However, Block Medical Officer (BMO) Uri, Dr Balwinder Singh, told Rising Kashmir that the issue has already been taken up with higher authorities. “We are hopeful that a paediatrician will be posted here soon,” he said.