For a common citizen in Kashmir, illness is often followed by a second fear: where to seek treatment. Government hospitals remain the main refuge for thousands who cannot afford private care, while private hospitals have emerged as an alternative for those seeking shorter queues, quicker consultations and specialised services. Yet, between the two systems lies a widening gap that reflects not only the state of healthcare but also the deeper economic inequalities in the Valley. Government hospitals carry the greatest responsibility. They serve patients from remote villages, overcrowded towns and disadvantaged families. Their doctors and paramedical staff often work under immense pressure, managing large patient numbers with limited infrastructure. Despite these constraints, public hospitals remain indispensable. They provide subsidised treatment, emergency care and specialised services that would otherwise remain beyond the reach of ordinary families. But overcrowding, shortages of medicines, delays in diagnostic tests, inadequate sanitation and a lack of sufficient beds continue to burden the public system. A patient may spend hours, sometimes an entire day, waiting for a consultation or investigation. Families from far-off districts are often compelled to stay in Srinagar for days because essential services are concentrated in a few major hospitals. This is not merely an administrative inconvenience; it is a serious public health concern. Private hospitals, on the other hand, have introduced better facilities, faster services and, in some cases, advanced medical technology. They have helped expand healthcare capacity in the Valley and reduced pressure on government institutions. However, their services remain unaffordable for a large section of the population. Hospitalisation, diagnostic tests, surgeries and even routine consultations can impose a heavy financial burden. For many families, private treatment means borrowing money, selling assets or postponing care until the condition becomes critical. The answer is not to pit government hospitals against private hospitals. Kashmir needs both, but with stronger regulation, accountability and coordination. The government must invest in public hospitals, fill vacant posts, modernise equipment and ensure the availability of medicines. At the same time, private hospitals must be monitored to prevent arbitrary charges and ensure transparency in billing and treatment. A healthy society cannot be built on a system where quality care is available only to those who can pay. The government must treat healthcare as a public responsibility, not merely as a service sector. Kashmir’s hospitals need resources, reform and compassion. Above all, every patient must be treated with dignity, whether they enter a government ward or a private hospital.
