JAMMU: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today inaugurated Project 13-13, a pioneering healthcare initiative launched by National Hospital Jammu to provide essential surgical treatment for women at a capped cost of Rs 13,000. Designed to ease the financial burden on low-income families, the programme is being led by Dr Jasbir Kaur and her team and aims to deliver affordable and dignified care to women requiring surgery.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Health and Medical Education Minister Sakeena Itoo, Uri MLA Sajjad Shafi, and Mahant Manjeet Singh, highlighting the cross-sectoral support for the initiative.
Calling it “a meaningful step in service of the people,” Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the initiative reflects the spirit of universal public service, drawing inspiration from humanitarian traditions such as those of the Sikh faith. “This project stands for the welfare of all,” he said. “It’s heartening to see the community step forward once again in times of need, without distinction or expectation.”
Abdullah praised the programme’s focus on affordability, saying, “To make all types of surgeries for women available at a capped cost of Rs 13,000 is a commendable effort, especially for families who otherwise find treatment costs overwhelming.”
He urged private healthcare institutions to adopt a more compassionate and inclusive approach, stressing that affordability must be built into healthcare design, not treated as an afterthought. “Doctors must prioritise patient care above all else,” he said. “Private hospitals have a responsibility to ensure that treatment is not out of reach for ordinary citizens.”
He also acknowledged the essential role of government hospitals, which, despite constraints, continue to anchor healthcare delivery across Jammu and Kashmir. “I hope more such initiatives—whether public or private—are taken up in the spirit of public service,” he added.
What is Project 13-13?
Project 13-13 is a community-focused healthcare programme conceptualised by Dr Jasbir Kaur to provide women’s surgical care at a fixed rate of Rs 13,000, regardless of the nature or complexity of the procedure. Targeted at financially disadvantaged women, the initiative is intended to remove cost as a barrier to necessary surgical treatment. While it is currently operational only at National Hospital Jammu, its model of price-capped, high-quality care is being lauded as a replicable framework for accessible private healthcare.
Dr Jasbir Kaur described the programme as “our way of giving back,” and reaffirmed its mission to uphold dignity, access, and equity in women’s healthcare. “This initiative is about ensuring that no woman is denied treatment because of cost,” she said.
As implementation begins, observers hope Project 13-13 becomes a model for other institutions seeking to balance professional care with social responsibility in India’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.
