Two major incidents within two months have raised a serious question: how much longer will the government remain silent to the crisis at Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag?
Sameer Ahmad
Anantnag: In March 2026, a grave incident occurred involving the administration of expired Dextrose Normal Saline (DNS) fluids to patients. The oversight was discovered by patients’ attendants, who noticed that the IV bottles were dated March 2025—meaning the fluids were being used nearly a full year past their expiration date.
In the wake of the incident, the GMC administration suspended three employees: the In-charge Storekeeper, the In-charge Pharmacist of the ward, and a Staff Nurse from the surgical ward. These employees have been “attached” to the office of the Medical Superintendent and are barred from leaving the station without permission pending the outcome of the probe.
Findings of the Inquiry
Medical Superintendent Dr. Arshid Hasan Siddiqui constituted a formal committee to investigate the procedural breakdown, mandating a comprehensive report within five days. The inquiry aimed to determine how expired stock reached the ward and why mandatory safety checks—which require staff to verify expiry dates before administration—were bypassed.
Sources told Nationvoice101, that the committee’s report, submitted after three weeks, confirms “serious mismanagement.” The investigation found that both the In-charge Pharmacist and the nursing staff on duty failed to perform the most basic safety protocol: verifying the expiration date before treating patients. Furthermore, a hospital-wide “Medical Audit” has been launched to inspect all drug supplies and storage systems.
New Allegations of Negligence
Even as the DNS controversy unfolds, a tragic new incident of alleged medical negligence has emerged. A young man from Qazigund passed away at GMC Anantnag following a road accident at the Fruit and Vegetable Mandi in Ashajipora.
The bereaved family alleges that the youth died due to a fatal delay in medical attention. They claim that, despite his critical condition, there was a total absence of emergency staff during crucial moments, leading to his rapid deterioration and eventual death.
The “Ghost” Duty Roster
Reports suggest a systemic gap in healthcare delivery during night hours at the hospital. While official duty rosters are filled with the names of senior consultants, the reality in the wards is reportedly quite different.
Although the rosters indicate that senior doctors are “on call,” patients and families consistently report a total absence of senior medical staff during the night. This leaves the most vulnerable patients in the hands of under-supervised junior staff, further compromising patient safety.
Meanwhile, Nationvoice101 tried to contact the Medical Superintendent, but his number was unreachable.
