‘Committed to make Institute country’s best’
TDD Correspondent
Srinagar, (TDD): On Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah’s anniversary, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that his government will restore the autonomy of Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) to enhance patient care and institutional efficiency.
Speaking at the 42nd Annual Day celebration of SKIMS, Omar Abdullah expressed shock over a recent ICU power breakdown where doctors had to manage critical patients manually due to a lack of control over the engineering wing. He attributed this issue to the institute’s loss of autonomy under previous administrative changes.
“My government will ensure SKIMS regains its independence, empowering it to deliver quality healthcare. I will personally work with the Health Minister to achieve this,” he said.
Omar acknowledged the dire shortage of nursing staff, with one nurse responsible for 30 beds during night shifts, and promised immediate action to improve recruitment after a decade-long hiring freeze.
He said SKIMS’s original vision to promote medical tourism, with facilities like recovery huts and lodges that remain incomplete. “We have the land, and we will bring this vision to life,” he assured.
Omar called for an end to unnecessary referrals of routine cases, urging district hospitals to manage less critical conditions to relieve SKIMS of avoidable burdens and allow it to focus on specialized treatments.
Reiterating his commitment to Sheikh Abdullah’s vision, Omar pledged full government support to transform SKIMS into one of India’s top medical institutions (TDD)
