Srinagar, July 15: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday inaugurated the state-of-the-art 120 bedded additional block of Bone and Joint Hospital, Barzulla, Srinagar.
The Chief Minister inspected the new facility, including operation theatres, ramps, staircases, and wards, and interacted with hospital staff and faculty.
Speaking at the event, he said that a fire incident in 2022 had impacted the hospital, significantly reducing its original capacity. He recalled that the hospital had continued to function through the 2014 floods. However, despite the limited space, the doctors continued to provide uninterrupted healthcare services to patients.
“It was the vision of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah to establish a dedicated orthopaedic hospital for the Valley, and it was inaugurated by him—perhaps one of the last functions he attended. The hospital officially began operations on May 15, 1982,” he said.
He said the new block marks a new chapter for the existing Bone and Joint Hospital, which is the largest orthopaedic facility in the valley. The CM said the hospital apart from the valley caters to patients of Ladakh, some parts of Jammu province.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary said the Bone and Joint Hospital project progressed under the current administration.
Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, said healthcare services across J&K are being strengthened through government medical colleges.
Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Sheikh Ahsan Pardesi, and Secretary Health and Medical Education Dr. Syed Abid Rashid Shah also addressed the gathering.
The event was attended by legislators, Principal GMC Srinagar Dr. Iffat Hassan, the hospital’s Medical Superintendent, doctors, and citizens.
The inauguration of the critical health infrastructure is a significant step towards strengthening specialized healthcare infrastructure in J&K.
The new block was initially slated for inauguration by the end of January and later May this year, but it was delayed due to installation of medical equipment.
Notably, National Projects Construction Corporation Limited (NPCC) was the executing agency for the project, while the PW(R&B) Department Kashmir was its implementing agency.
The new block was constructed under the Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP) with World Bank funding. Officials said that the previously identified deficiencies that were raised by the World Bank team have been addressed over the past several months.
According to officials, the additional hospital building is designed as a G+ structure and incorporates high-end machinery in its construction, which began in 2019.
An official from the GMC Srinagar administration said they were keen on the early inauguration of the new block. “It was a coordinated effort, and we are happy for the inauguration. I’m confident that it will pave the way for enhancing patient care,” the official said.
