The Char Dham Yatra is slated to resume in April and the State Government claims to be taking necessary measures to ensure a safe journey for the pilgrims. However, considering the condition of the primary health centre at Joshimath, the State has yet to provide even proper medical treatment facilities in this town which is not only the last major stop near Badrinath and Hemkund but also close to the Indo-Tibetan border region.
The X-ray and ultrasound machines here have been out of order for months due to which patients in need of these and some other facilities are referred to better hospitals in Dehradun and other places. Officials have already started the rounds of meetings held every year purportedly to ensure proper arrangements for the pilgrim season.
The officials of the district administration have also held meetings to discuss measures for preventing inconvenience to visitors. However, the authorities seem to maintain an apathetic attitude towards the importance of ensuring proper medical treatment facilities at the Joshimath PHC.
This centre has not only been facing a shortage of doctors but the X-ray machine has been out of order for months while the ultrasound machine has been out of operation for about eight months now.
A radiologist is appointed to operate the ultrasound machine here but has been without work for months now. Due to this, those in need of an ultrasound scan have no other option but to travel to Dehradun or some other place outside Joshimath. The locals point out that while they have been facing problems due to the anomalies in the management of the PHC, pilgrims and tourists expected to visit this region during the pilgrimage season from April might face tougher situations in case of sickness or accidental injury en route to Badrinath.
The Joshimath PHC is the sole primary health centre in this region which is near the Indo-Tibetan border. Considering that the much touted winter pilgrimage for devotees of lord Badrinath was also facilitated by the State to the Narsinh temple in Joshimath this time, the condition of the Joshimath PHC points at the apathy of the Government machinery towards the problems being faced both by the locals and visitors in need of medical treatment. The State Health Minister, Surendra Singh Negi, was not available for his reaction.