Srinagar, Dec 13 (KNO): Asserting that accessible and affordable quality healthcare has become a reality in Jammu and Kashmir under the leadership of PM Modi, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday said that the Union Territory’s medical education and public health landscape has witnessed transformative changes during the past five years.
Speaking at the valedictory ceremony of SKIMS Annual Festival Week here, LG Sinha, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said, “It took almost seven decades to create 500 MBBS seats in Jammu and Kashmir. In contrast, we have added 800 additional MBBS seats within just four years.”
The event also marked the commencement of 29th Post-Graduate Research Presentation Programme (PGRP-2025) and felicitation of PGRP Awardees, Doctors, Nursing Staffs and Employees of SKIMS by the Lieutenant Governor.
LG Sinha noted that long-pending challenges such as the absence of adequate government medical colleges and the dominance of unaffordable private institutions are now issues of the past. “Through bold and systemic reforms undertaken between 2020 and 2024, we have ensured that quality medical education is more accessible and affordable for aspiring students from all sections of society,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor said that Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed massive expansion of healthcare infrastructure and the adoption of innovative solutions in the post-2019 period. New medical colleges, improved hospital facilities, and strengthened primary and secondary healthcare systems have significantly enhanced service delivery across urban and rural areas, he added.
Reaffirming the administration’s commitment to inclusive development, LG Sinha said the healthcare sector in J&K is being guided by the vision of ‘Health for All’. He called upon the healthcare fraternity to play a proactive role in building an inclusive, resilient and people-centric healthcare system that ensures equitable access to quality services for every citizen.
The Lieutenant Governor emphasized that the reforms in healthcare and medical education are not only improving health outcomes but also creating new opportunities for youth, strengthening public trust in institutions, and laying a strong foundation for a healthier and more prosperous Jammu and Kashmir.
“With bold and systemic reforms between 2020 to 2024, we have made quality healthcare education more accessible,” he said.
Guided by the vision of 'Health for All', the Lieutenant Governor called upon the healthcare fraternity to ensure inclusive, resilient, and people-centric healthcare.
“We must enrich the healthcare sector through knowledge, innovation, and research. A multidisciplinary approach that goes beyond treating illness should be adopted to address the physical, mental, and social well-being of individuals,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The Lieutenant Governor also lauded the transformation of SKIMS in the last 4-5 years and its significant contribution to public health and medical education. He observed that over 1,100 long-pending promotions were executed and around 1,300 paramedical and ministerial posts were revived and referred, including 120 faculty positions. Clearance given to over 1,800 DPC promotions and additional 367 Non-Gazetted and 159 Gazetted posts were referred to recruiting agencies. SKIMS is also planning to set up Future-Centres of Excellence in transplant services, emergency & trauma care, neurosciences, cardiac sciences, renal medicine, and pulmonary diseases, endocrine and metabolic disorders.
The Lieutenant Governor inaugurated various projects for SKIMS including commissioning of Emergency S.M.A.R.T Lab; ICU-VII, Heavy Duty Lift and a new Firefighting System.
Foundation stones were laid by the Lieutenant Governor for several projects for SKIMS. These projects include Centre for One Health, 3 MLD sewage treatment plant, Multi-level Car Parking, Attendant Inn- Phase II and Shopping Complex for Hostels. New digital initiatives at SKIMS were also launched on the occasion.
The Lieutenant Governor called for adopting a multifaceted approach leveraging cutting-edge technology to develop new healthcare models and enhance accessibility.
He also sets Five Goals for Healthcare Transformation.
“Data-driven care should be our first goal for personalized treatment and precision medicine.
The second goal is to implement a robust system for auditing patient treatment and outcomes.
Third, to ensure 100% digital records for better treatment and foster a sense of empowerment for patients.
The fourth goal is to develop a decentralized healthcare system that enables doctors in remote villages to provide timely treatment, specifically tailored to patient needs.
Fifth, the medical community must collaborate to promote preventive health and wellness in society”, the Lieutenant Governor said.
Prof. Mohammad Ashraf Ganie, Director SKIMS; Prof. Vivek Lal, Director, PGIMER Chandigarh; Prof. A. Ravinder Nath, Vice Chancellor Central University of Kashmir; Shri Anshul Garg, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; VK Birdi, IGP Kashmir; Akshay Labroo, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, senior officials, medical professionals, Heads of Departments, faculty, students and staff of SKIMS attended the valedictory ceremony—(KNO)