Jammu, Sept 12: Health Minister Sakina Itoo on Friday announced a major investment of over ₹124 crore aimed at strengthening healthcare infrastructure across Jammu and Kashmir. The funding, she said, will provide a significant boost to diagnostic facilities, treatment capacity, and accessibility of health services in both urban and rural areas of the Union Territory.
In an official post on X, Minister Itoo detailed the projects included in the allocation. Among the key facilities are a CT scan unit at Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu, advanced MRI machines for GMC Baramulla, GMC Kathua, and GMC Rajouri, and a state-of-the-art Catheterization Laboratory (Cath Lab) at GMC Doda. Additionally, GMC Srinagar will be equipped with a PET Scan facility, offering cutting-edge diagnostic capabilities for cancer and other critical diseases.
Beyond new installations, the plan also places strong emphasis on digital healthcare access. Minister Itoo announced that 80 new telemedicine units will be set up across Jammu and Kashmir. These units, she said, are intended to bring specialized consultations to remote and underserved regions, thereby bridging the urban-rural divide in healthcare delivery.
“These initiatives reflect our government’s unwavering commitment to making quality healthcare more accessible, affordable, and reliable for every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir,” the minister said. She emphasized that the expansion of both physical and digital infrastructure is part of a broader vision to modernize the health sector and ensure that people no longer have to travel long distances for advanced medical services.
Officials in the Health Department noted that the rollout of these facilities will not only strengthen patient care but also help reduce the burden on existing infrastructure, streamline diagnosis, and improve early detection of diseases. The integration of telemedicine, they added, will allow for timely consultations, especially in high-altitude and difficult-to-reach areas.
The announcement has been welcomed by the medical fraternity and local communities, who view it as a long-awaited step toward aligning Jammu and Kashmir’s healthcare infrastructure with national standards.