SRINAGAR, March 22 – The Indian government has greenlit the establishment of three new medical colleges in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, marking a significant step in expanding medical education and healthcare access in underserved regions, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare said on Saturday.
Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), Jammu & Kashmir will see new medical colleges in Udhampur and Handwara in Kupwara district, while Ladakh will get its inaugural medical college in Leh. The initiative aligns with New Delhi’s broader push to establish 157 medical colleges nationwide, prioritizing aspirational districts and border areas.
“The new institutions will enhance access to medical education and address the critical shortage of healthcare professionals in remote regions,” the ministry said in a statement.
Jammu & Kashmir already hosts five medical colleges in Anantnag, Baramulla, Rajouri, Doda, and Kathua, set up under earlier phases of the scheme. The region has also secured approval for 196 postgraduate (PG) seats and 60 MBBS seats across various institutions to bolster medical training opportunities.
The ministry highlighted ongoing progress on two All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) projects in the region—AIIMS Awantipora in Kashmir and AIIMS Vijaypur in Jammu. With a combined investment of 2,326.23 crore rupees ($278 million), these facilities are poised to become the region’s primary hubs for tertiary healthcare, reducing the need for patients to seek specialized treatment outside Jammu & Kashmir.
The approvals underscore the government’s focus on strengthening healthcare infrastructure in border territories, where access to quality medical services has historically lagged. The Leh medical college, in particular, is expected to transform healthcare delivery in Ladakh, a high-altitude region with limited medical resources.
Officials did not provide a timeline for the completion of the new colleges but said the projects would be expedited to meet regional healthcare demands.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
