Pakistan-occupied Kashmir’s fragile healthcare system faces imminent shutdown as physicians announce plans to halt services from Republic Day unless urgent interventions occur. This dramatic escalation underscores the territory’s deepening isolation and administrative failures.
The PoK Medical Association, representing over 2,000 doctors, detailed a litany of grievances including six months of salary arrears, outdated medical equipment from the 1980s, and rampant corruption siphoning healthcare funds. ‘We’ve buried colleagues who died from treatable illnesses due to lack of facilities,’ revealed senior surgeon Dr. Shabir Hussain in an exclusive interview.
Patient stories paint a grim picture. In Bagh district, a young mother lost her newborn due to unavailable neonatal care. Cancer patients endure months-long waits for chemotherapy that never arrives. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed these vulnerabilities, yet promised upgrades remain undelivered years later.
Regional analysis reveals stark disparities. While Pakistan invests in flashy infrastructure projects for optics, PoK hospitals lack even functional X-ray machines. Electricity rationing cripples dialysis units, leaving kidney patients in mortal peril. The doctors’ ultimatum demands Rs 500 crore in immediate funding and structural reforms.
Political undercurrents amplify the crisis. With India’s Republic Day approaching, the strike call resonates symbolically, highlighting contrasts between democratic governance and administered territories. PoK youth groups have joined the protests, demanding transparency in health spending and local autonomy.
Medical experts warn of domino effects. School closures due to flu outbreaks strain emergency services further. Malnutrition cases surge in remote valleys cut off by snow. Without swift action from Islamabad, analysts predict mass exodus of healthcare professionals, accelerating brain drain.
As negotiations stall, hospital administrators stockpile minimal supplies while bracing for worst-case scenarios. The coming days will test Pakistan’s commitment to its administered territories, with global health monitors documenting every failure. PoK’s health implosion serves as cautionary tale of governance neglect in contested regions.
