Srinagar, Feb 17 (KNO): Government Medical College Anantnag has become the first medical college among newly established GMCs in Jammu and Kashmir to start a super speciality course in cardiology.
An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the National Board of Examinations has accredited three DrNB cardiology seats to the Department of GMC Anantnag.
He said these seats will be equivalent to DM cardiology, as GMC Anantnag has a bed strength of more than 500.
"Since the department's rapid expansion in early 2025, it has fundamentally changed the cardiac care landscape for the region: The department has performed over 3,000 procedures since its cath lab became operational in April 2025," the official said. "Over 1,000 life-saving procedures have been conducted, including primary angioplasties and pacemaker implantations. Notably, the department team achieved a record 15–20 minute door-to-balloon time for eight primary angioplasties within a single 12-hour window."
He said that apart from dealing with emergencies, the facility routinely handles high-end interventions previously unavailable in the area, such as device implantations: CRTP, CRTD, and technically demanding LBBA pacing.
The department’s complex coronary care includes procedures like rotablation, orbital atherectomy, IVL, left main, bifurcations, triple-vessel disease, DCB angioplasty, CTO interventions, and structural interventions like BMV, ASD, PDA, and RSOV device closure, the official said, adding that peripheral interventions such as subclavian, carotid, and lower limb interventions are performed as needed.
By providing these services locally, the department has saved the lives of countless patients from south Kashmir, Ramban, Banihal, Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Kishtwar, Reasi, Gool, and other areas, who previously faced high mortality risks during long transit to Srinagar, he said.
Principal and Dean GMC Anantnag, Prof Dr Rukhsana Najeeb, congratulated the department of cardiology on this achievement. She thanked all those who contributed to realising this goal.
"There is zero referral from the cardiology department in GMC Anantnag, thanks to the dedicated team of professionals and high-end cath labs performing procedures swiftly," she said.
Dr Rukhsana further informed that work on the radiation oncology block is ongoing, and within the next three to four months, this department will commence functioning from a new building. "The need for this department is high, as the rate of stomach cancer in the area is very high," she said—(KNO)