GMC B’la to get state-of-the-art facilities under Govt’s new sanction plan

Srinagar, July 10: Government Medical College (GMC) Baramulla is set for a major infrastructure upgrade, as the Jammu and Kashmir Government has approved a series of high-end medical facilities and services to enhance patient care and diagnostics.Officials at the medical college said the government has announced a slew of measures this year to improve healthcare facilities at the premier tertiary care institution, which caters to the entire North Kashmir region.Officials said Jammu and Kashmir government has sanctioned a state-of-the-art Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine worth Rs 25 crore for GMC Baramulla.“This high-end diagnostic tool will greatly enhance radiological services, enabling advanced imaging for accurate diagnosis and timely treatment of a wide range of medical conditions, including neurological, musculoskeletal, and internal organ disorders,” they said.Similarly, a Catheterization Laboratory (Cath Lab) costing INR 12.5 crore has been approved for the medical college marking a significant step toward improving cardiac care in the region.Once functional, this facility will allow interventional procedures like angioplasty and stenting, minimising the need for patients to travel to distant tertiary care centres for heart-related emergencies.They said in order to ensure scientific and safe disposal of biomedical waste, a Microwave Medical Waste IoT ICD system valued at INR 80 lakhs has been approved.“This modern waste management solution integrates Internet of Things (IoT) technology to track and control waste processing, thereby maintaining hygiene standards and ensuring environmental compliance at GMC Baramulla.”The government has transferred industrial land to facilitate the expansion of GMC Baramulla. This strategic move will pave the way for the development of additional infrastructure, including specialised departments, student hostels, and modern healthcare facilities—ultimately elevating the college to a more robust and comprehensive medical institution.The officials said to promote traditional systems of medicine, 25 kanals of land have been allotted for the establishment of an AYUSH facility in Baramulla. This will integrate Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy services into mainstream healthcare.GMC Baramulla has been sanctioned an additional free 108 ambulance under the emergency medical response system. It will ensure faster and more efficient transport of critical patients from remote areas, thereby potentially saving more lives. A Digital X-Ray machine worth INR 2 crore has been approved to enhance its diagnostic imaging capabilities.On July 7, the Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo chaired a meeting to review healthcare infrastructure at GMC Baramulla. She emphasised on critical importance of strengthening healthcare delivery system at grassroots level. Following the announcement, Sakeena on Wednesday chaired a high-level review meeting which was attended by MLA’s and senior officers and officials of the health department.The Minister emphasised the importance of strengthening patient care and reiterated her commitment to uplift GMC Baramulla. She appreciated the dedication and hard work of the medical fraternity and assured that all grievances would be sincerely addressed.Notably, GMC Baramulla—one of the newly established medical colleges—continues to struggle with a shortage of specialists in critical departments, despite the increasing patient load from across north Kashmir.As per officials the college currently has no nephrologist, cardiologist, or neurologist, and faces a shortage of orthopaedicians and endocrinologists. This lack of manpower is severely affecting patient care and forcing many to travel to Srinagar for treatment.Residents said the absence of a cardiologist has created a major void, leaving cardiac patients with no choice but to seek help at far-off hospitals. The lack of cardiac care at such a key institution has also raised serious concerns about emergency response, especially in cases of heart attacks.