Raja Syed Rather
The healthcare landscape in Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing significant strides with ongoing developments, including the steady progress of AIIMS Awantipora, the launch of Tele MANAS for mental health support and ongoing concerns regarding underutilised healthcare funds, reveals a parliamentary report.
The report by the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare highlights that 60.5% of construction work on AIIMS Awantipora has been completed. This key project, under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), is expected to bridge the healthcare gap in the region, providing advanced medical care and enhancing medical education.
The project will also contribute to the government’s broader effort to upgrade medical institutions across India, improving both accessibility and the quality of healthcare services.
Apart from AIIMS, the government has introduced Tele-MANAS, the National Tele Mental Health Programme in Jammu and Kashmir, the report mentions. This initiative aims to expand mental healthcare access, particularly in conflict-prone and remote areas where psychological support is critical. Tele-MANAS offers video consultation services, allowing residents to connect with mental health professionals remotely.
Despite these positive steps, budgetary concerns remain a significant challenge. The report notes the underutilisation of allocated healthcare funds, with government health expenditure falling short of expectations in relation to GDP. To address this issue, the Parliamentary Committee has urged the Jammu and Kashmir government to increase its annual health budget by at least 10%.
According to the report, the progress on National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) infrastructure projects has been delayed. While land has been identified for cooperative sector development in J&K, delays in lease agreements and construction have hindered the expansion of cooperative healthcare and related sectors in the Union Territory.
Once completed, AIIMS Awantipora will feature 750 beds, a medical college, a nursing college, speciality and super-speciality departments, and state-of-the-art research facilities. The facility is set to reduce the region’s reliance on tertiary healthcare institutions outside Jammu and Kashmir, ensuring that residents have access to critical care and specialized treatments within the region.
The AIIMS project is also expected to create employment opportunities and expand medical education in the area. Plans to enroll 100 MBBS students and 60 nursing students annually will help address the region’s healthcare professional shortage. The institute’s modern research facilities will also contribute to medical advancements, particularly in areas that are critical to the health challenges faced by the population of Kashmir.
