SMVDSB expands healthcare with Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendra at Bhawan

Katra, Oct 9: In a pursuit to enhance quality healthcare services for pilgrims, employees of Shrine Board and allied agencies deployed in Bhawan and surrounding areas, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board’s Chief Executive Officer, Anshul Garg, today inaugurated the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendra (PMBJK) at Bhawan during the ongoing Shardiya Navratras as per the directions of Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble Chairman, SMVDSB (Lt. Governor, JK-UT).
The newly established PMBJK at Bhawan aligns with the Government of India’s vision to provide affordable quality medicines and healthcare products. This initiative benefits lakhs of pilgrims visiting the Shrine annually and officials in the area by offering easy access to generic medicines, medical devices and essential healthcare products at affordable prices thereby making quality healthcare more accessible to all.
The Chief Executive Officer reaffirmed the Board’s endeavor to enhance healthcare infrastructure along the pilgrimage route by ensuring that pilgrims experience spiritual fulfillment and receive affordable medical care when needed. He emphasized that affordable healthcare is a vital aspect of the pilgrimage and the Board is proud to offer this service at the pilgrimage destination. The PMBJK will significantly bolster the healthcare ecosystem by providing a holistic approach to pilgrims’ well-being. This initiative enables pilgrims and employees to access high-quality medicines at economical rates without compromising on quality and efficacy.
CEO underscored that Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board reiterated its mission of delivering services that go beyond religious aspects by catering to the overall well-being of society. The CEO assured that the Board will continue its efforts to provide world-class facilities and extend its healthcare, education and welfare programs in the region.
Notably, to cater to the medical needs of the pilgrims, seven fully functional medical units having modern medical equipments are being run by the Board at various strategic locations along the track to attend any medical exigency round the clock. Standby ambulances are also available for immediate shifting of patients to the referred Hospital for specialized medical attention. Besides, there is a Govt. Community Hospital at Katra and about 09 Km from Katra, a 300 bedded tertiary care Hospital of the Shrine Board is also available to attend all medical needs of the pilgrims (at cost to Board). Additionally, nine cloud-enabled state-of-the-art Health ATMs along the revered pilgrimage track and one Telemedicine Studio at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital (SMVDNSH), Kakryal has also been made functional by the Board for the facilitation of the pilgrims.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer also unveiled the Durlabh Darshan Kendra, a collaborative initiative with TechXR Innovations Pvt. Ltd., offering pilgrims a complimentary 11-minute virtual reality experience of the entire Shri Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage during Shardiya Navratras. Using VR headsets, devotees can immerse themselves in the sacred journey, encompassing the entire route, Aarti, and Holy Pindis darshans, fostering a profound spiritual connection without extensive time commitments. Building on last year’s launch of virtual darshan through the natural cave, this innovative technology enhances the pilgrimage experience by providing a real accessible and immersive spiritual encounter for devotees.