J&K Undergoes ‘Historic Healthcare Transformation’, Say Officials
Giving the details, it said that the MBBS seats have risen from 500 to 1,725, PG and super‑specialty seats from 513 to 802, and DNB seats from 20 to 438. This expansion has improved doctor availability and reduced dependence on institutions outside the UT, the statement said
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a “historic and far‑reaching transformation” in its healthcare sector driven by massive infrastructure expansion, unprecedented growth in medical education and sustained support from the Government of India, an official statement issued in Jammu on Tuesday said.
According to the statement, strategic investments by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have reshaped healthcare delivery across the Union Territory, ensuring access to quality medical services in urban centres as well as remote, rural and border regions.
The government said large-scale infrastructure projects and systematic upgrades at the grassroots level have “redefined the healthcare landscape” of the UT by bringing advanced services closer to people living in far‑flung areas.
The statement highlighted the establishment of two All India Institutes of Medical Sciences as a cornerstone of the transformation. AIIMS Jammu, now fully operational, is offering world‑class tertiary and super‑specialty care, significantly reducing the need for patients to travel outside the UT. AIIMS Kashmir, nearing completion, is expected to become functional by year-end and will strengthen super‑specialties including oncology, cardiology and neurology.
J&K now has 12 Government Medical Colleges, up from four earlier, including new institutions in underserved districts such as Anantnag, Baramulla, Kupwara, Kathua, Doda, Udhampur and Rajouri. AYUSH institutions—including Ayurvedic, Unani and Homeopathic colleges—have further broadened healthcare options.
Medical education capacity has expanded sharply, the statement said. Giving the details, it said that the MBBS seats have risen from 500 to 1,725, PG and super‑specialty seats from 513 to 802, and DNB seats from 20 to 438. This expansion has improved doctor availability and reduced dependence on institutions outside the UT, the statement said.
It further stated that the B.Sc. Nursing seats have increased from 685 to over 3,000, B.Sc. Paramedical seats from 78 to nearly 1,900, and B‑Pharmacy seats from 33 to 373. New M.Sc. “Nursing programmes have strengthened advanced training for allied health professionals”, it asserted.
Key projects include a 243‑bedded Labour Block at SMGS Hospital Jammu, a 100‑bedded Mother & Child Hospital at Lamberi (Rajouri), and a 125‑bedded district hospital in Budgam. Under PM‑ABHIM, 17 Critical Care Blocks are being established across the UT.
According to the statement the Health & Wellness Centres have expanded from 130 to 3,166, Jan Aushadhi Kendras from 47 to 307, and the 102/108 ambulance fleet to 489 vehicles. These measures have improved emergency response and reduced out‑of‑pocket expenditure.
State Cancer Institutes in Jammu and Srinagar, Bone & Joint Hospitals in both regions, and a 500‑bedded Pediatric Hospital in Srinagar are now functional. Supporting infrastructure includes a Drug Testing Laboratory in Kathua and 100‑bedded hospitals at Baltal and Chandanwari enroute to Amarnath cave-shrine.
The statement noted that the Infant Mortality Rate has dropped from 22 to 14, while the Sex Ratio at Birth has improved from 927 to 976, reflecting progress in maternal and child health. The government said the reforms have positioned J&K as “a model of healthcare transformation,” adding that ongoing projects reaffirm the Centre’s commitment to providing accessible, affordable and reliable healthcare comparable to the best in the country.
