Srinagar, Mar 21 (KNO): The Union Government has ruled out the establishment of an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in North Kashmir, stating that there is no such proposal in the current phase of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).
As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), this was confirmed by Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, in response to a query raised by Member of Parliament Abdul Rashid Sheikh in the Lok Sabha.
Sheikh had asked whether the government was considering setting up an AIIMS in North Kashmir, given that the region comprises mainly border areas with limited access to specialized healthcare. In response, Jadhav stated that under PMSSY, two AIIMS have already been approved for Jammu & Kashmir—one in Vijaypur, Jammu, and another in Awantipora, Kashmir. The minister clarified that no additional AIIMS is planned for North Kashmir at this stage.
He added that the Union Government has allocated a total of Rs 3,532 crore to J&K’s health sector in the last three years through various central schemes, including the National Health Mission (NHM), PMSSY, and Ayushman Bharat.
The Union Minister said that the funding for the AIIMS projects in Jammu and Kashmir has significantly increased over the past three years. AIIMS Vijaypur received Rs 1,318.06 crore between 2021 and 2025, while AIIMS Awantipora was allocated Rs 1,008.17 crore during the same period.
From 2021 to 2024, Jammu & Kashmir received Rs 3,532 crore in central health sector funding. This includes Rs 1,915.84 crore under NHM for healthcare services, Rs 2,326.23 crore for AIIMS projects in Vijaypur and Awantipora, Rs 202.96 crore under Ayushman Bharat for health insurance, and Rs 18.47 crore for upgrading medical colleges.
The government is also expanding medical education in J&K, approving seven new medical colleges in Anantnag, Baramulla, Doda, Kathua, Rajouri, Udhampur, and Handwara. Additionally, 196 PG seats and 60 MBBS seats have been approved under central schemes for upgrading medical colleges.
Responding to concerns about staff shortages and lack of medical equipment in J&K hospitals, Jadhav stated that funds under NHM are being used to improve medical infrastructure, procure advanced equipment, and fill vacancies in medical and paramedical staff. He added that district and referral hospitals are being upgraded to provide better healthcare services to underserved areas—(KNO)