Srinagar, Aug 22: The non-availability of female staff in ECG (Electrocardiogram) rooms across many hospitals in Jammu & Kashmir has become a cause of concern for female patients, who say they often feel uncomfortable undergoing the test in the presence of male staff.
Several women patients and attendants told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the absence of female technicians not only causes hesitation but also delays timely diagnosis and treatment in many cases.
Shazia Bano, a patient at a district hospital in south Kashmir, said, “I was asked to undergo an ECG last week, but when I saw a male technician inside, I felt extremely uneasy. I waited for hours, hoping a female staff member would come, but there was none. This hesitation can cost patients their health.”
Another patient from north Kashmir shared her experience: “The test requires exposure of the chest area, and for women, it is not easy to go through it in front of male staff. Many of us skip the test altogether. The government must deploy female staff in ECG rooms for female patients.”
Doctors also acknowledged the issue, saying that patient comfort is essential in ensuring timely medical intervention. “ECG is a basic and often urgent diagnostic tool. If patients delay or avoid it due to discomfort, it can seriously affect treatment outcomes. Authorities should take note and address this gap,” said a senior physician who wished to remain anonymous.
Health experts suggest that a simple policy intervention could resolve the issue by ensuring at least one trained female staff member is available in ECG rooms in every hospital.
They said that J&K’s health minister is also a woman, and she can better understand the discomfort in this test.
Patients and their families have now urged the Health and Medical Education Department to take immediate steps. “Just like female staff are made available in gynaecology wards, the same should be done for ECG rooms. It is a matter of dignity and comfort for women,” said Rukhsana, an attendant at a Pulwama hospital.
They have urged Health Minister Sakina Itoo to look into the matter and take immediate steps in this regard—(KNO)
