Srinagar, Feb 17: The National Board of Examinations has accredited three DNB seats to the Department of Cardiology at GMC Anantnag, considering its bed strength of over 500. These seats will be equivalent to a DM in Cardiology.
The development has come under the patronage of Principal and Dean Prof. (Dr.) Rukhsana Najeeb and the leadership of Dr Syed Maqbool, HOD Cardiology, along with hard work of faculty, including Dr Shamim Iqbal, Dr Showkat Hussain Shah, and Dr Shahood Kakroo.
The official spokesperson said the medical college has more seats per year for super specialisation in cardiology than GMC Srinagar and GMC Jammu.
He said the accreditation from the National Board of Examinations solidifies the stature of GMC Anantnag as a premier hub for both advanced cardiac treatment and specialist medical training and sets a benchmark for the peripheral medical colleges in the rest of the country.
The official said that since the department’s rapid expansion in early 2025, it has changed cardiac care in the region. It performed over 3,000 procedures since its cath lab became operational in April 2025.
“Over 1,000 life-saving procedures have been conducted, including primary angioplasties and pacemaker implantations,” he said, adding that the team achieved a record 15–20-minute door-to-balloon time for eight primary angioplasties in a single 12-hour window.
Apart from dealing with emergencies, the facility handles high-end interventions previously unavailable in the area, such as Device Implantations: CRTP, CRTD, and technically demanding LBBA pacing.
The complex coronary care includes Rotablation, orbital atherectomy, IVL, left main, bifurcations, triple vessel disease, DCB angioplasty and CTO interventions.
Structural interventions, including BMV, ASD and PDA closures, as well as RSOV device closure, have now become routine procedures. Peripheral interventions such as subclavian, carotid, and lower limb interventions are also performed as and when required.
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 the long transit to Srinagar.
Dr Syed Maqbool, Head Department of Cardiology, thanked all the officials and staff who supported the department to make this breakthrough possible.
Prof (Dr) Rukhsana Najeeb, Principal and Dean GMC Anantnag, congratulated the department for this extraordinary achievement. She thanked all those who put their efforts in one way or another to help us to realise this wonderful dream.
