Healing Hands: GMC Srinagar affiliated hospitals treated 24 lakh patients in 1 year

Srinagar, Apr 28:  The Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, one of the oldest and premier medical institutions in North India, has emerged as a formidable healthcare provider in Jammu and Kashmir treating over 24 lakh patients during the last fiscal year.

In the financial year 2023-24, GMC's seven associated hospitals treated a staggering 24.73 lakh patients in outpatient departments (OPDs) and admitted 2.28 lakh patients, while conducting 70,271 surgeries, the GMC Srinagar shared this information on its social media handle.

GMC Srinagar is affiliated with seven hospitals, each with varying bed capacities. SMHS Hospital, with a capacity of 890 beds, accommodated over 10 lakh patients in its OPDs, admitted 1.07 lakh patients and performed 23269 surgeries during the fiscal year 2023-24. LD Hospital, with 710 beds, attended to 2.08 lakh OPD patients during the same period. The Bone and Joint Hospital, with a capacity of 180 beds, served 2.45 lakh OPD patients. GB Panth Hospital, with 700 beds, saw 4.56 lakh patients in its OPDs. CD Hospital, with a capacity of 200 beds, treated 1.52 lakh OPD patients. Psychiatry Diseases Hospital, with 100 beds, received 1.69 lakh OPD patients. Additionally, the Super Speciality Hospital, with 220 beds, catered to 1.77 lakh OPD patients in the fiscal year 2023-24. Overall, GMC Srinagar, with a total bed capacity of 2970, plays a significant role in providing healthcare services.

Established in 1959 with just a few rooms near the current LD Hospital, GMC Srinagar has come a long way, nurturing medical professionals and providing vital healthcare services to Kashmir's population.

The college's humble beginnings can be traced back to 1959 when Col. G.V.S. Murthy took charge as the first principal, with Anatomy and Physiology being the first departments. Two years later, the college was shifted to its present location in Karan Nagar and was formally inaugurated on August 25, 1961, by the then Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad.

According to an official note, GMC's golden period is considered to be the 1970s and 1980s when it attracted students not only from various states of India but also from foreign countries. The associated Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital became a major teaching institute, imparting undergraduate and postgraduate medical training in all allied specialities.

Over the years, GMC expanded its footprint with the establishment of specialised hospitals like Lal Ded Maternity Hospital, Children's Hospital, and Bone & Joint Hospital, Children Hospital.

With its rich history, dedicated faculty, and state-of-the-art facilities, GMC Srinagar has solidified its position as a cornerstone of healthcare in Jammu and Kashmir, serving lakhs of patients annually and contributing to the region's medical workforce.