RAJOURI: On 12th May 2026, Rajouri witnessed the celebration of a truly unique century — not on a cricket field, but in the lives of patients who had once lost hope of walking without pain.
More than 100 beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat came together with doctors, citizens and their surgeon, Dr. Vikas Padha, Senior Joint Replacement Surgeon at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, to celebrate the successful completion of over 100 Knee Replacement and Hip Replacement surgeries for patients from remote tribal and border areas of Rajouri and Poonch.
For many of these patients, severe knee and hip problems had confined them to their homes for years. Daily activities had become painful, and expensive surgeries costing lakhs of rupees were beyond their imagination. The challenge was not just treatment — it was access.
Nearly two years ago, Dr. Vikas Padha started a monthly outreach OPD in Rajouri with a mission to take advanced orthopaedic care closer to people living in far-flung areas who could not travel to Katra. Through these outreach initiatives, patients suffering silently in remote villages were identified, counselled and guided for treatment under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
What followed was life-changing. Patients who once walked with support, lived in constant pain or had almost stopped moving are now walking independently, returning to work and living with dignity again.
The success of this initiative was made possible through the continued support of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, under whose aegis Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital functions. Through its strong focus on outreach healthcare and patient welfare, the Shrine Board has played a transformative role in ensuring that advanced tertiary care reaches underserved and tribal populations of Jammu & Kashmir.
The initiative stands as a powerful example of a new healthcare approach — where healthcare is not waiting for patients to reach hospitals, but hospitals are reaching the doorsteps of patients.
By supporting outreach programmes, strengthening healthcare infrastructure and ensuring access to affordable treatment, the Shrine Board has helped bridge the gap between remote communities and world-class healthcare facilities.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Vikas Padha thanked the patients and their families for trusting the team and acknowledged the role of Ayushman Bharat in making these surgeries accessible to economically weaker patients.
“These surgeries would not have been possible for many families without Ayushman Bharat. Expensive procedures like Knee and Hip Replacement became accessible because healthcare was taken to the doorstep of people who needed it the most,” he said.
Dr. Yashpal Sharma, Executive Director, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME), said,
“This unique century is not just a medical milestone; it is a reflection of how outreach healthcare can transform lives. The vision of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has always been to ensure that quality healthcare reaches even the remotest areas. Seeing patients from tribal and border regions walk pain-free again is the true success of this initiative.”
A special event was organised at New Aashirwad Hotel, Rajouri, where beneficiaries emotionally shared their journeys of recovery and gratitude. The programme also featured the premiere of a short film titled “Toote Parindon Ki Nayi Udaan – A Tale of Unique Century,” capturing the inspiring transformation in the lives of these patients.
This remarkable milestone once again highlights how compassionate outreach, dedicated doctors and institutional support can together change lives.
