Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) today said that patients face immense hardships due to suspension of mobile phone services in the valley.
Demanding immediate restoration of cell phone services, president DAK Dr Nisar ul Hassan in a statement said that patient care is worst hit and patients suffer the consequences of this snapping.
“It is ironical that cell phone services go off during medical emergency,” Dr Hassan said. “On one hand helpline numbers are provided to the people in view of medical emergency, on the other hand cell phone services are suspended. The sick and wounded are denied access to medical services.”
Mobile phone services were suspended on Thursday and internet is blocked for last one week.
“It is a lifeline in modern age and it is difficult to survive without communication. Under the prevailing circumstances, patients communicate their problems with the doctors on phone. The timely titration of medicines of critical diseases is done through mobile phones which is life saving. At times doctors need to discuss problems with other doctors for a better/second opinion and this is done through phone. Blocking all communication is a violation of civil liberties which are personal guarantees and freedoms that state cannot abridge.”
“It is dictatorial and unacceptable in a liberal democracy,” the DAK president said. “There is abuse of medical neutrality, which is against humanitarian law, as doctors and paramedics are not allowed to reach hospitals. Even the ambulances ferrying critically injured patients find it difficult to reach hospitals.”
