Srinagar, Jan 22, 2025 – A growing public health crisis has emerged in Kashmir as the Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar reports multiple fatalities linked to unauthorized medical treatments, prompting urgent calls for intervention against illegal practitioners.
The Post-Graduate Department of Paediatrics at GMC Srinagar has documented several deaths from acute liver failure (ALF) among patients who sought “miracle cures” from unqualified practitioners in Dara Harwan after being discharged from hospital care.
“These deaths were entirely preventable,” said a senior pediatrician from GMC Srinagar, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Patients with manageable liver conditions were subjected to unproven treatments that tragically accelerated their decline, leading to ICU admissions and fatalities.”
In an official communication to the GMC Principal, medical authorities highlighted a disturbing pattern where desperate patients, often misled by promises of miraculous recovery, abandoned proven medical treatments in favor of unauthorized therapies.
The crisis has sparked particular concern in the Dara Harwan area, which has emerged as a hub for unqualified practitioners offering alternative treatments. Medical experts warn that these unauthorized interventions not only worsen existing conditions but can also cause severe complications, including irreversible liver damage.
“We’re seeing patients arrive at our ICU in critical condition after receiving these unproven treatments,” the pediatrician added. “By the time they return to proper medical care, the damage is often too severe to reverse.”
The Government Paediatric Hospital in Bemina has also been alerted to this emerging crisis. Health authorities are now considering stricter measures against unauthorized medical practitioners, including potential legal action to prevent further casualties.
GMC Srinagar has issued a public advisory urging residents to:
- Verify the credentials of medical practitioners
- Continue prescribed medical treatments
- Report unauthorized medical practices to relevant authorities
- Seek immediate medical attention at recognized healthcare facilities if complications arise
The Department of Health Services is expected to launch a comprehensive crackdown on unauthorized medical practitioners in response to these incidents. Meanwhile, families affected by these tragic outcomes are calling for stronger regulatory oversight of alternative medical practices in the region.
