J&K bets big on healthcare in Budget 2026-27
Srinagar, Feb 6: The Jammu and Kashmir Budget 2026–27 has accorded a major push to the Health and Medical Education sector, allocating Rs 1,866 crore under capital expenditure—one of the highest allocations across sectors—aimed at expanding healthcare infrastructure, strengthening diagnostics, and scaling up medical education.
The allocation marks an increase of Rs 115.5 crore over the previous financial year. Presenting the Budget in the Assembly, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a “significant upgradation of health infrastructure” in recent years, with over 4,000 healthcare facilities developed, including 15 medical colleges, two AIIMS, and two State Cancer Institutes.
The Chief Minister said diagnostic capacity across Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) is being strengthened, with the process initiated for installing 1.5 Tesla MRI machines in new GMCs and 3 Tesla MRI machines at GMC Jammu, GMC Srinagar, and SKIMS. Installation of CT scan machines is also underway at major hospitals, including District Hospital Budgam, SSH Srinagar, District Hospital Poonch, SMGS Jammu, Chest Disease Hospital Jammu, and SMHS Srinagar.
To enhance cancer diagnostics, PET-Scan facilities will be installed at GMC Srinagar and extended to GMC Kathua during 2026–27. A comprehensive Cancer Control Strategy covering the entire Union Territory will also be launched in collaboration with NITI Aayog and ICMR, the Chief Minister said.
Highlighting hospital expansion, Omar Abdullah said the new 160-bedded block at the Bone and Joint Hospital, Srinagar, constructed at a cost of Rs 140 crore, has been operationalised. Other major projects announced include IVF and NICU facilities at Lal Ded Hospital, a Mother and Child Care Hospital at GMC Anantnag, Cath Labs at GMC Rajouri, Baramulla, and Doda, and dedicated emergency and accident hospitals at Uri and Poonch.
Emergency healthcare has been prioritised in the Budget, with plans to establish Emergency Medicine Departments in all GMCs and procure bullet-proof ambulances for border districts.
The Chief Minister also announced that the much-awaited AIIMS Kashmir will be operationalised in June this year, significantly improving access to tertiary healthcare services and expanding undergraduate and postgraduate medical seats in the region.
In a major boost to medical education, the government said 548 new medical seats are expected to be added during the current year, including 340 MBBS, 128 postgraduate, 34 postgraduate (Ayurveda), and 46 DNB seats.
Additional healthcare achievements outlined in the Budget include a 100-bedded Mother and Child Care Hospital in Rajouri, upgradation of SDH Billawara to a 100-bedded facility, construction of a 50-bedded hospital at Sunderbani, upgradation of the 100-bedded hospital at Nowshera, and a 125-bedded District Hospital at Reshipora, Budgam.
