SRINAGAR: The Union Government has approved three new medical colleges for Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) to expand medical education in underserved regions.
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According to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Jammu Kashmir will get new medical colleges in Udhampur and Handwara (Kupwara district), while Ladakh will have its first-ever medical college in Leh.
The initiative is part of the government’s broader plan to strengthen healthcare education by establishing 157 new medical colleges across India, focusing on aspirational districts and border regions.
The ministry said that these institutions aim to improve access to medical education and address the shortage of healthcare professionals in remote areas.
In addition to the newly approved colleges, Jammu Kashmir already has five medical colleges in Anantnag, Baramulla, Rajouri, Doda, and Kathua, established under earlier phases of the scheme. The government has also approved 196 postgraduate (PG) seats and 60 MBBS seats for various medical institutions in the region to enhance medical education opportunities.
The AIIMS projects in Awantipora, Kashmir, and Vijaypur, Jammu, are progressing steadily, with the government allocating Rs 2,326.23 crore for their construction.
These AIIMS facilities are expected to become the primary tertiary healthcare centres in the region, reducing the need for patients to seek specialised medical treatment outside JK. (KNO)