Srinagar – The Gauri Kaul Foundation (GKF), a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing access to cardiac care across Jammu and Kashmir, has received the “Best NGO in Healthcare and Heart Disease” award. The honour, presented by the Integrated Global Health Care Mission in association with Advanced Media Group and Med Gate Today magazine, recognizes the foundation’s significant contributions to democratizing specialized healthcare services in the region.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that Dr. Priyadarshini, Director of GKF, accepted the award from Mr. Afzal Kamal, Editor-in-Chief of MedGate Today. Established in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic by a team of directors including renowned cardiologist Prof. Upendra Kaul, the foundation initially focused on addressing critical healthcare gaps through comprehensive cardiac screening camps in various districts of Kashmir.
Over time, GKF has expanded its infrastructure to include two advanced day care centers equipped for high-quality cardiac evaluation and management. One of these centers is strategically located in a remote, underserved area of Pulwama District, ensuring that rural populations have improved access to specialized cardiac services. This initiative aims to bridge the geographical and socio-economic divides that often hinder access to essential healthcare.
Further extending its reach, the Gauri Kaul Foundation, in a significant collaboration with the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) in 2025, acquired a fully equipped “Heart Clinic on Wheels.” This mobile unit serves as a mobile diagnostic hub, bringing advanced cardiac assessment capabilities directly to remote communities. The clinic is outfitted with a comprehensive suite of investigative tools necessary for timely and accurate cardiac evaluations, significantly reducing the need for patients to travel long distances.
The foundation actively runs two flagship programs: the School Health Initiative, which monitors the heart health of school-aged children to detect congenital and acquired cardiac issues early, and collaboration with Ayushman Aarogya Mandir. Through the latter, GKF routinely visits Community Wellness Centres to audit, support, and optimize ongoing treatments for local patients, striving to maintain international standards of care at the grassroots level.
Professor Upendra Kaul, Founder and Director of GKF, reflected on the award, stating, “This honour has been made possible by joint, relentless efforts that began during the dark days of the Covid era and have continued unabated till date.” He extended special thanks to co-directors Dr. Priyadarshini Arambam and Mr. M. A. Pathan for their instrumental role in driving the foundation’s vision. Gratitude was also expressed to the panel of advisors, including Prof. N. K. Arora of the INCLEN Trust International, for their invaluable guidance.
With this latest recognition, the Gauri Kaul Foundation reiterates its commitment to reducing preventable cardiac deaths in Jammu and Kashmir through innovative approaches, mobile healthcare solutions, and a community-centric healthcare model.
The Chenab Times News Desk