SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has emphasised the need to strengthen emergency services in government hospitals across Jammu and Kashmir while ensuring equitable healthcare access, particularly in rural areas.
Speaking at JK MediCon-2025, the first-ever National Medical Conference-cum-Workshop at Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu, Abdullah underscored the necessity of improving emergency handling capacity in newly established GMCs to reduce pressure on GMC Jammu and GMC Srinagar. He also highlighted the importance of deploying doctors beyond urban centres to enhance healthcare accessibility.
“We need to augment and improve the emergency handling capability in new GMCs so that the burden on GMC Jammu and GMC Srinagar is reduced. Similarly, we must ensure that our doctors don’t just practice in cities. Rural areas also deserve proper healthcare access,” he said.
During his address, Abdullah acknowledged the excessive pressure on GMC Jammu’s emergency services due to inadequate healthcare facilities in peripheral areas. He stressed that strengthening rural healthcare infrastructure is key to reducing patient influx in major hospitals.
“The way to reduce this pressure is not just by expanding infrastructure in Jammu but by enhancing healthcare facilities in peripheral areas. Previously, we only had GMC Jammu and GMC Srinagar, but now we have GMCs at the district level,” he noted.
He also highlighted the role of MediCon-2025 in fostering discussions on medical advancements and ethical concerns in modern healthcare. He pointed out the increasing reliance on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotic surgery, raising concerns about the balance between technology and human touch in patient care.
“There is immense value in human contact, and that’s where doctors—who literally do God’s work—play an irreplaceable role,” he said.
Addressing ethical concerns in healthcare, Abdullah questioned the intersection of medical practice and profit-driven models, highlighting the pressure on doctors in corporate hospitals to meet revenue targets instead of focusing solely on patient care.
Praising the dedication of medical professionals, he acknowledged their role in saving lives and continuously adapting to new medical advancements. He also assured his government’s commitment to supporting GMC Jammu’s growth plans and pledged to implement at least one proposal presented by the institution’s principal.
“This event brings together the best minds to share ideas, best practices, and research advances while discussing emerging trends in medicine,” he concluded.
The conference, organised by the JK Medical Council in collaboration with the Student Research Development Council (SRDC), was attended by Health Minister Sakina Itoo, former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, Secretary H&ME Dr Syed Abid Rashid, Jammu West MLA Arvind Gupta, Principal & Dean of GMC Jammu Dr Ashutosh Gupta, Chairman JK Medical Council Dr Muhammad Saleem Khan, senior professors, doctors, faculty, and students.
