JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday announced a major expansion in medical education, unveiling plans to add 548 new medical seats across various disciplines during the current year.
Presenting the Budget in the Legislative Assembly, the Chief Minister said the government is taking concrete and sustained steps to strengthen the foundation of the Union Territory’s healthcare sector, with a strong focus on capacity building and infrastructure development.
“This year, we are adding 548 medical seats to enhance educational capacity,” Omar Abdullah told the House.
The expansion includes 340 new MBBS seats, 128 postgraduate medical seats, 34 postgraduate seats in Ayurveda, and 46 Diplomate of National Board (DNB) seats, significantly boosting opportunities for aspiring medical professionals in the region.
In a parallel development aimed at strengthening advanced healthcare infrastructure, the Chief Minister also announced that the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Kashmir will become operational by June 2026.
The initiatives are expected to address the long-standing shortage of medical professionals, improve healthcare delivery, and reduce dependence on institutions outside the Union Territory for medical education and specialized treatment.
