219 ventilators defunct across UT hospitals

The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Wednesday informed the Assembly that 219 ventilators are defunct across 10 Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) and the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in the Union Territory.

In a written reply to a starred question raised by MLA Shamim Firdous, Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo provided hospital-wise details of functional and non-functional ventilators in GMCs, associated hospitals and other major health institutions, including SKIMS.

According to official data, out of a total of 877 ventilators, 658 are functional while 219 are non-functional.

GMC Jammu and its associated hospitals have 320 ventilators, of which 209 are functional and 111 non-functional.

At GMC Srinagar’s SMHS Hospital, 68 out of 76 ventilators are functional, while eight are non-functional. Its associated hospitals have 173 ventilators, including 44 that are not working.

At GMC Anantnag and its associated hospitals, only 10 ventilators are functional against 26 defunct ones out of a total of 36.

GMC Baramulla reported two non-functional ventilators out of 41, GMC Doda reported 10 out of 27, GMC Kathua two out of 52, and GMC Rajouri three out of 54. All 39 ventilators at GMC Udhampur and all six at GMC Handwara were reported to be functional.

At SKIMS, Soura, 13 out of 53 ventilators were reported to be non-functional.