The only tertiary childcare hospital in the valley that caters to children of the age group 0-15 years has been downsized from 175 beds to 135 beds. A detailed investigation by The Indian Express revealed:

• The hospital is deficient in staff. About 163 posts were created in 2005 from professor to orderlies. Some of the posts were advertised by the Public Service Commission and gazetted cadre of consultants was filled but the rest of the posts were filled on contractual basis only. Most of the contractual nursing staff left after they got permanent positions elsewhere. The hospital is short of some 30 nurses.

• The hospital is facing an acute shortage of space and beds. It is working in the same capacity for the last five years after being shifted to the cantonment area from its old place adjacent to the Lal Ded hospital.

• A full-fledged paediatric Intensive Care Unit is needed, the space has been ear marked but staff and equipment are required.

• With no full time administrator, the hospital staff, including the paramedics, has no accountability. It has also created lots of problems in terms of discipline, procurement of essential drugs in time, equipment and over all maintenance at all levels in the hospital.

• An MoU has been signed between the J-K government and the Cantonment board, leading to the dual control of the hospital’s administration with the Deputy Superintendent from the army. All the decisions regarding the hospital have to be taken with the permission from the army.

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