Jammu, Feb 21: In a landmark step to strengthen specialised medical education in Jammu and Kashmir, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has approved 24 new super-specialty postgraduate (PG) seats across Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) of Jammu and Srinagar and Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura.
The seats have been sanctioned in streams including Cardiology, Urology, Pulmonary Medicine, Medical Gastroenterology, Paediatric Surgery, Neuro-Anaesthesia, Paediatric and Neonatal Anaesthesia, and Clinical Immunology & Rheumatology.
Welcoming the move, Health and Medical Education Minister Sakeena Itoo termed it a major milestone, highlighting the government’s commitment to developing Jammu and Kashmir as a hub for advanced medical education and specialised healthcare services.
“This achievement reflects sustained efforts to elevate healthcare standards and ensure that advanced and specialised medical services are available locally. The addition of super-specialty PG seats will empower young doctors with opportunities for advanced training within J&K and improve patient access to specialised care,” the Minister said.
She noted that the expansion aligns with the broader vision of strengthening the healthcare ecosystem, reducing patient referrals outside J&K, and ensuring timely, high-quality treatment closer to home.
The Minister also acknowledged the efforts of faculty, medical college administrations, and the Department of Health, saying their dedication and adherence to NMC standards were critical to securing approval.
“The government will continue prioritising investments in medical education, infrastructure, and human resources to provide world-class healthcare facilities to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. This development marks another milestone in ongoing healthcare reforms and reinforces our vision of J&K as a centre of excellence in medical education and specialised healthcare,” Itoo added.
This expansion is expected to boost local medical training, enhance specialised healthcare services, and reduce the need for patients to travel outside the UT for advanced treatment.
BOX:
Seat allocations:
GMC Jammu: Four seats in DM Cardiology, 4 seats in MCh Urology
GMC Srinagar: Two seats each in DM Pulmonary Medicine, DM Cardiology, DM Medical Gastroenterology, MCh Urology, and MCh Paediatric Surgery
SKIMS Srinagar: Two seats each in DM Neuro-Anaesthesia, DM Paediatric and Neonatal Anaesthesia, & DM Clinical Immunology & Rheumatology
