SRINAGAR: The Union Government has informed the Rajya Sabha that construction of AIIMS Awantipora in Jammu and Kashmir has reached 74 per cent completion and is scheduled to be finished by December 2026, while AIIMS Jammu is already operational with full academic and clinical services.
Replying to an unstarred question by Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo, Minister of State for Health Prataprao Jadhav said AIIMS Jammu is functioning with teaching, research, OPD and IPD facilities, with 42 departments, including broad and super-specialities, currently operational.
The minister stated that AIIMS Awantipora’s completion timeline for civil works is December 2026, adding that operationalisation depends on factors such as site conditions, project management, regulatory clearances, and recruitment of faculty and non-faculty staff.
As per official data, AIIMS Jammu has a sanctioned strength of 183 faculty and 1,311 non-faculty posts, while AIIMS Awantipora has 94 faculty and 252 non-faculty posts.
On medical education infrastructure, the government said seven new medical colleges have been approved under a centrally sponsored scheme in Anantnag, Baramulla, Rajouri, Doda, Kathua, Udhampur and Handwara. These colleges are to be managed and operated by the respective State/UT government.
Additionally, 60 undergraduate (MBBS) seats across two medical colleges and 196 postgraduate seats in four colleges have been sanctioned in Jammu and Kashmir under schemes aimed at expanding capacity in existing institutions.
The government further noted that tertiary healthcare facilities in the region have been strengthened under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana, with Government Medical College Jammu and Government Medical College Srinagar upgraded through the establishment of super-speciality services.
The reply did not indicate any immediate announcement regarding new medical colleges in uncovered districts such as Kishtwar, Ramban and Poonch.
