Deep Sharma
Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir is set to undertake a comprehensive overhaul of its Intensive Care Unit (ICU) facilities, with the Health and Medical Education Department initiating a UT-wide exercise to assess existing infrastructure, identify deficiencies and prepare a time-bound plan for upgrading critical-care services across government and private healthcare institutions.
The initiative follows directions of the Supreme Court of India in Civil Appeal No. 8402/2016, titled Asit Baran Mondal & Anr. versus Dr. Rita Sinha & Ors., particularly its orders dated May 20 and September 21, 2026, concerning the implementation of Guidelines for Organization and Delivery of Intensive Care Services.
In this regard, the government has constituted a Committee of Specialists and Stakeholders through Government Order No. 757-JK (HME) of 2026, dated November 3, issued by the Health and Medical Education Department.
The committee will undertake an institution-wise assessment of Intensive Care Units across the Union Territory, covering Level-I, Level-II and Level-III facilities, and prepare a comprehensive roadmap to bring them in line with the prescribed standards.
The proposed exercise is expected to cover critical gaps in specialised medical manpower, nursing staff, allied healthcare personnel, medical equipment, infrastructure, medical utilities, infection control, patient safety and critical-care training. The committee will review the existing Compliance Matrix and Gap Analysis Report to establish the present status of healthcare institutions and identify the interventions required to meet the prescribed standards.
A major focus will be on strengthening critical-care capacity beyond major hospitals and medical colleges, particularly through improved Tele-ICU and teleconsultation facilities. The committee will recommend mechanisms for real-time information on ICU bed availability and stronger referral linkages between healthcare institutions to facilitate timely access to specialised treatment.
The government has also included emergency transportation and patient referral systems in the proposed exercise. The committee will examine the adequacy of ambulance services and recommend measures to ensure the availability of appropriately equipped ambulances capable of transporting and stabilising critically ill patients.
Particular attention will be given to healthcare institutions located in hilly, remote and geographically difficult areas of Jammu and Kashmir, where access to specialised medical facilities and emergency transportation can pose additional challenges. The committee will assess the specific constraints faced by these institutions, review measures already undertaken and suggest suitable interventions with defined timelines.
The exercise will also extend to private hospitals having established ICU and critical-care facilities. Two representatives from selected private hospitals will be nominated by the Directors of Health Services, Jammu and Kashmir, to participate in the committee. Their facilities will also be assessed for compliance with the prescribed guidelines, with corrective measures recommended wherever deficiencies are identified.
The committee will be chaired by the Head of the Department of Anaesthesiology/Critical Care, Government Medical College, Jammu, while the Heads of Critical Care Medicine at SKIMS, Soura, and Anaesthesiology/Critical Care at GMC Srinagar will be members.
Heads of Anaesthesiology/Critical Care from other government medical colleges, including GMC Anantnag, Baramulla, Kathua, Rajouri, Doda, Udhampur and Handwara, will also be part of the committee. Representatives from the Law and Health and Medical Education departments, JKMSCL, Health Services Jammu and Kashmir and the Accounts Service will complete the institutional representation.
Besides identifying deficiencies, the committee will explore permissible funding support through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), NGOs and other sources to strengthen ICU infrastructure and critical-care facilities across the UT.
The government has set a 15-day deadline for the committee to submit its consolidated draft Action Plan/Roadmap, indicating institution-wise deficiencies, corrective measures, resource requirements, responsible implementing agencies and specific timelines for execution.
The draft roadmap will be submitted to the Commissioner/Secretary to Government, Health and Medical Education Department, through the Member Secretary. The department will subsequently examine the proposals in terms of technical feasibility, administrative implications, financial requirements and conformity with the Supreme Court’s directions before placing them before the competent authority for consideration and approval.
Following approval, the roadmap will be circulated to all concerned Government Medical Colleges, SKIMS, Directorates of Health Services, JKMSCL and other institutions for implementation. Heads of the respective institutions and departments will be responsible for executing the measures assigned to them within the approved timelines.
The committee will also periodically review implementation, identify bottlenecks and submit progress reports to the department, detailing the measures completed, deficiencies remaining and issues requiring intervention at the government level.
The Health and Medical Education Department will provide secretarial and logistical support to the committee, while the concerned institutions have been directed to furnish all requisite information and extend assistance to complete the exercise within the stipulated period.
