Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, April 5

The government has announced an ambitious overhaul of its health care system, outlining plans to introduce advanced technologies such as robotic surgery, artificial intelligence-assisted diagnostics and expanded critical care infrastructure in an effort to modernize services and address longstanding gaps.

Officials from the Health and Medical Education Department acknowledged persistent shortages in infrastructure and staffing across hospitals and medical institutions, even as they presented what they described as a comprehensive strategy to strengthen the sector.

The plan calls for the expansion and upgrading of hospital infrastructure across districts, alongside investments in newer medical colleges and nursing institutions. 

Authorities also said recruitment efforts would be accelerated, supplemented by contractual hiring under the National Health Mission to address immediate workforce shortages.

Despite these measures, officials conceded that a lack of medical and paramedical personnel continues to strain the system.

A recent review of facilities across government-run medical colleges found that while many meet current demands, several newly established institutions face deficiencies in critical areas such as hostel accommodations, laboratories, diagnostic services and specialized equipment.

At the centre of the government’s modernisation push is the introduction of high-end medical technologies. 

Robotic surgery units are planned for Government Medical College Srinagar and Government Medical College Jammu, aimed at improving precision in complex procedures and expanding tertiary care capabilities.

Cardiac care is also set to be strengthened with new catheterisation laboratories proposed at Government Medical College Baramulla and Government Medical College Doda, targeting underserved regions.

In oncology, the government said PET-CT scanning facilities would be extended to all remaining government medical colleges by 2026-27, enhancing early cancer detection and diagnostic capacity.

The plan also emphasises expanding access to essential services in peripheral areas. 

Dialysis facilities are to be introduced in all remaining sub-district hospitals and community health centers within the same time frame, a move intended to reduce the burden on tertiary care hospitals.

Artificial Intelligence is expected to play a growing role in diagnostics, with 50 AI-enabled X-ray machines slated for deployment in district and sub-district hospitals. 

Officials said the initiative, backed by an allocation of 100 million rupees, is designed to improve efficiency and accuracy in imaging services.

Alongside technological upgrades, the government outlined measures to improve basic infrastructure, including the restoration of elevators, oxygen generation plants, sanitation facilities and accessibility features such as ramps, with an emphasis on patient safety and service delivery.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, authorities plan to complete 13 critical care blocks, 111 block-level public health units and 10 district public health laboratories within the year.

Officials also indicated that new research initiatives would examine cancer prevalence in horticulture-intensive regions, reflecting concerns about environmental and occupational health risks.

While the plan signals a significant expansion of health infrastructure, its success is likely to depend on sustained funding and the government’s ability to address chronic staffing shortages – challenges that have long complicated health care delivery in the region.