Srinagar, Aug 8: In a major administrative push to revive long-pending development initiatives, the Standing Finance Committee (SFC) of Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, met after more than five years, charting an ambitious roadmap to transform the premier institution into a quaternary healthcare facility and Centre of Excellence.

The meeting, chaired by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, was the first SFC meeting at SKIMS since August 2021. The revival of the high-level financial and administrative mechanism is expected to accelerate critical infrastructure projects, strengthen institutional capacities and give fresh momentum to the institute's expansion plans.
Dulloo called upon SKIMS to raise its institutional standards and emerge as a benchmark for advanced healthcare, medical education and research in the region. He assured the institute of full government support for strengthening super-speciality services, advanced medical technologies, medical education and cutting-edge research.
The Chief Secretary directed the SKIMS administration to prepare a comprehensive roadmap covering patient care, infrastructure, equipment, human resources and specialised services, with the objective of ensuring that patients from Jammu and Kashmir do not have to travel outside the Union Territory for advanced treatment.
He stressed the need to adopt modern technologies, global treatment protocols and contemporary medical practices while continuously benchmarking SKIMS against leading healthcare institutions across the country.
Dulloo also called for greater focus on research-driven healthcare solutions, particularly in cancer and other diseases of growing prevalence, besides developing a pool of highly skilled medical professionals capable of addressing emerging healthcare challenges.
Financial Commissioner (ACS), Finance, Shailendra Kumar, assured continued support to SKIMS while stressing administrative efficiency, financial sustainability and greater institutional self-reliance. Commissioner Secretary, Health & Medical Education, M. Raju, also underscored the need for sustained institutional growth in patient care, academics and research.
Earlier, Director SKIMS, Prof. (Dr.) Mohd. Ashraf Ganie, presented a comprehensive vision for strengthening tertiary and quaternary healthcare, expanding specialised manpower, upgrading infrastructure and integrating modern medical technologies. He highlighted the institute's extensive patient-care workload, including lakhs of outpatient visits, thousands of admissions, complex surgeries and a high volume of diagnostic investigations.
The Committee deliberated on several major infrastructure and service-expansion proposals. These included augmentation of emergency services through a dedicated Emergency Block, establishment of a Trauma Care Centre and Organ Transplant Unit, and creation of a dedicated OPD Block to cater to the growing patient load.
It also approved creation of requisite posts for the State Cancer Institute and measures to strengthen the Departments of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery (CVTS), Nursing and Medical Technology.
In another important step, the Committee approved internship programmes for B.Sc. and M.Sc. Nursing students to provide structured clinical exposure and strengthen their practical skills.
The meeting reaffirmed the Government's commitment to providing the financial and administrative support required for timely execution of priority projects.
The renewed institutional push is expected to strengthen SKIMS as a regional hub for advanced healthcare, medical education and biomedical research, with the long-term objective of establishing it among India's leading Centres of Excellence.