In a significant step toward transforming Jammu and Kashmir’s healthcare landscape, Dr. Vinod K. Paul, Member of NITI Aayog, held a high-level meeting with UT officials to strategize comprehensive reforms. The meeting was chaired by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and witnessed participation from key stakeholders including the Secretary of Health and Medical Education, Director SKIMS, Principals of Government Medical Colleges, and heads of regulatory bodies.
Chief Secretary Dulloo outlined recent health sector reforms initiated in the Union Territory and sought Dr. Paul's expert guidance to optimize them for broader impact.
Dr. Paul, a leading public health expert and architect of national health missions such as Ayushman Bharat and POSHAN Abhiyaan, praised J&K’s rapid adoption of digital health technologies including Tele-ICUs, Telemedicine, and Tele-Consultation. He emphasized the potential of these tools to bridge the healthcare gap between urban and rural areas, and recommended a hybrid reporting model for real-time monitoring and quality assurance.
Deliberations covered expansion of postgraduate and super-specialty medical education (MD, MS, DM, MCH, DNB) across J&K, strengthening emergency services by establishing Emergency Medicine Departments in peripheral colleges, and tackling procedural challenges in securing additional MBBS seats under NMC guidelines.
Special attention was given to elderly care, with plans to align geriatric services with NITI Aayog’s "Services Care" framework. Discussions also included proposals for AIIMS institutions in the UT to adopt nearby district hospitals for integrated healthcare support and referral systems.
To improve dental healthcare access, the meeting endorsed mobile dental units across remote areas, engaging both government and private sector resources.
The team agreed on a project-based approach to scale Tele-ICUs using a hybrid funding model involving central and UT resources, along with partnerships with NGOs and domain experts.
Chief Secretary Dulloo expressed optimism that with NITI Aayog’s support, J&K can become a model for accessible, equitable, and quality healthcare. “Our priority remains universal access, quality assurance, and sustainable healthcare systems,” he said.
This meeting signals a strong commitment to building a resilient, people-centric healthcare system in J&K, with a focus on inclusive policy, digital transformation, and improved infrastructure across all regions.