Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday called for a healthcare system that delivers services “anytime, anywhere”, advocating greater use of technology, preventive care and public-private collaboration to improve access to quality healthcare across Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing the third edition of the CII Jammu & Kashmir Health Conclave in Srinagar, Sinha said the future of healthcare lies in ensuring accessible, affordable and equitable services for all through innovations such as telemedicine, drone-based delivery of medical supplies and blood units, artificial intelligence-powered diagnostics and solar-powered cold chains.
He said technology must be used to bridge geographical barriers and ensure timely medical care reaches even the most remote communities. Citing the example of an ASHA worker connecting patients in far-flung villages with district hospitals through tele-consultation, he described telemedicine as a transformative tool for expanding healthcare access.
The Lieutenant Governor urged stakeholders to make Jammu and Kashmir a testing ground for low-cost, high-impact healthcare innovations, including drone-based delivery of medicines and blood units and solar-powered cold chain systems for health facilities in high-altitude areas.
Sinha identified rising healthcare expenditure as one of the key challenges confronting health systems globally and called for a shift from treatment-focused healthcare to prevention, early intervention and regular screening.
He said health systems must prioritise routine screening, easy access to primary healthcare services and timely treatment to reduce dependence on costly medical interventions.
The Lieutenant Governor also stressed the need to expand medical and nursing education, increase training capacity and improve healthcare access in rural and remote areas through telemedicine. He said the wellbeing of healthcare workers should remain a priority and called for better staffing, reduced administrative burden and mental health support for medical personnel.
Referring to digital health initiatives, Sinha said efforts are underway to create a secure system linking health records across the country. He said the mechanism would enable authorised doctors to access a patient’s medical history while ensuring that patients retain control over their personal health data.
The Lieutenant Governor claimed that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, steps have been taken to improve healthcare accessibility, affordability and insurance coverage across the country.
Highlighting developments in Jammu and Kashmir’s health sector, Sinha said the Union Territory has witnessed a significant expansion in healthcare infrastructure in recent years. He cited the establishment of two AIIMS institutions, 10 medical colleges, two State Cancer Institutes, specialised facilities including Bone and Joint and Paediatric hospitals, 52 nursing colleges, 23 paramedical colleges and five pharmacy colleges.
He said these institutions have strengthened healthcare delivery and medical education in the region while improving access to specialised treatment.
Sinha also urged participants at the conclave to deliberate on developing modern primary health centres in every village linked to district healthcare networks, harnessing artificial intelligence for early disease detection and clinical decision-making, strengthening disease surveillance systems and genomic capabilities, promoting local manufacturing of diagnostic kits and building a robust healthcare workforce through nursing and paramedical institutions and continuous skill development.
Calling for greater collaboration between the government and private sector, he said private hospitals and health-related industries should actively contribute to improving healthcare delivery and innovation.
The Lieutenant Governor said the true measure of success in healthcare lies in improving people’s lives. He expressed hope for a future where residents of remote areas such as Kupwara need not travel long distances for routine care, workers in Rajouri are protected from financial hardship caused by healthcare expenses and medical graduates are able to build their careers within Jammu and Kashmir.
He said access to advanced treatment and modern healthcare facilities for all remains essential for achieving social justice, equality and broader socio-economic development.
During the event, Sinha also extended his best wishes to Ujala Cygnus for the launch of its new initiative, the Peace and Wellbeing Foundation, and described the conclave as an opportunity to discuss ways to strengthen healthcare delivery in Jammu and Kashmir and beyond.
The conclave was attended by CII J&K UT Council Chairman Iqram Ali Shafiee, Ujala Cygnus Hospitals Founder Director Dr Shuchin Bajaj, CII J&K Vice Chairman Siddhant Choudhary, Peace and Wellbeing Foundation board members Dr Pervez Ahmad Sofi and Arafat Ahmad Bhat, People’s Conference president Sajad Gani Lone, healthcare professionals and members of the Confederation of Indian Industry. SSP Srinagar Dr G.V. Sundeep Chakravarthy, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Akshay Labroo and other senior officials were also present.
