Sweeper Caught Administering Injection in Ganderbal, Sparks Outrage and Probe

SRINAGAR: In a deeply disturbing incident that has raised serious questions about patient safety and healthcare management in Kashmir, a video has gone viral showing a sweeper administering an injection to a female patient at a Public Health Centre (PHC) in Shuhama, Ganderbal district.

The incident, which surfaced on Wednesday, triggered widespread outrage on social media, with many calling it both “shocking” and “unacceptable.” The video footage clearly shows a hospital sanitation worker giving an injection to a woman patient, while an attendant attempts to intervene. The sweeper, however, defends his actions, claiming he is “used to such procedures” and has performed dressings multiple times in the past. He further asserts that he was acting on instructions from the Zonal Medical Officer (ZMO).

The revelation has sparked concerns about the misuse of non-medical staff in clinical roles and the absence of adequate supervision at healthcare centres, especially in rural and remote areas of Kashmir.

Responding to the uproar, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Ganderbal, Dr Bashir Ahmad, confirmed that a formal investigation has been initiated. “We have taken cognisance of the matter, and an inquiry is underway. It may take a few more days before we can share concrete findings,” he told reporters. Dr Ahmad added that patient safety remains the department’s top priority and that no unauthorised personnel would be allowed to perform medical procedures.

The incident has reignited debate over chronic staffing shortages in Kashmir’s healthcare system. Only recently, Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakina Itoo, acknowledged that a lack of qualified doctors in peripheral areas continues to plague the region, calling it a “legacy issue” stemming from successive government failures.

Healthcare experts have condemned the episode as a symptom of systemic neglect. “This is not just a lapse in protocol; it is a serious breach of ethics and a potential risk to human life,” said a senior physician, requesting anonymity. “Allowing untrained staff to perform medical procedures is dangerous and cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.”

 The Ganderbal incident, many fear, may be just the tip of the iceberg in a healthcare system stretched thin and in urgent need of reform. It is facing crippling staff shrtage especially at the paramedic level, insiders in the department said.