Major boost to medical education in J&K; NMC approves 24 super-specialty PG seats

In a significant upgrade to the healthcare landscape of Jammu and Kashmir, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has approved 24 new super-specialty postgraduate (PG) seats. This development is being hailed as a major milestone by the UT administration, aiming to transform the region into a center of excellence for specialized medical services.

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Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, stated that these seats would empower local doctors with advanced training opportunities while ensuring that high-quality, specialized care is accessible to patients within J&K.

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The Seat Matrix: Distribution Across GMCs and SKIMS

The new seats are strategically allocated to address critical gaps in specialized care:

1. GMC Jammu: 4 seats in DM Cardiology and 4 seats in MCh Urology.

2. GMC Srinagar: 2 seats each in DM Cardiology, DM Pulmonary Medicine, DM Medical Gastroenterology, MCh Urology, and MCh Paediatric Surgery.

• SKIMS Soura: 2 seats each in DM Neuro-Anaesthesia, DM Paediatric and Neonatal Anaesthesia, and DM Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology.

Strengthening the Ecosystem: GMC Anantnag’s First

The momentum for medical education in the region was further bolstered on February 17, when the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) accredited three DrNB super-specialty seats in cardiology to GMC Anantnag. This makes it the first of the five medical colleges established in the 2019–20 cycle to achieve such a high-level recognition.

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Impact on Healthcare: Reducing Referrals

Currently, many patients from J&K are forced to travel to Chandigarh or Delhi for super-specialty consultations. By increasing the number of seats in local government colleges, the administration aims to:

1. Retain Talent: Stop the “brain drain” of MBBS and MD graduates to other states for super-specialty training.

2. Specialized Care: Ensure that life-saving surgeries and treatments in Cardiology and Urology are available closer to home.

3. Infrastructure Utilization: Better utilize the advanced equipment and faculty already present in these premier institutions.

Reality Check

The addition of seats is a policy success. Still, the challenge remains in faculty retention. In fact, many senior specialists in J&K often move to the private sector or go abroad due to stagnant pay scales compared to national standards. Therefore, while the seats exist, the quality of training will depend heavily on the government’s ability to keep high-level mentors in government service.

The Loopholes

The NMC approval is based on “compliance standards.” In fact, these approvals are often provisional and subject to annual inspections. Therefore, if a department fails to maintain its nurse-to-patient ratio or lacks specific diagnostic equipment in the coming months, these seats could be “kept in abeyance” in the next cycle. Still, the DrNB accreditation for GMC Anantnag acts as a strategic loophole-closer, proving that even newer colleges can meet rigorous national benchmarks.

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What This Means for You

If you are a medical aspirant or a resident doctor in J&K, your specialization path just got significantly wider. First, you no longer have to exclusively target the NEET-SS seats in AIIMS or PGI Chandigarh; you have a high-quality local option. Then, for patients, this means that the waiting time for complex urological or cardiac procedures at GMC Jammu and Srinagar should decrease as more residents join the workforce.

Finally, realize that SKIMS Soura remains the only center for niche fields like Clinical Immunology. You should check the JKBOPEE portal for the updated seat matrix and counseling dates for the 2026 session. Before choosing a seat, verify the “bond requirements” of J&K, which often mandate a period of public service in rural areas following the completion of super-specialty training.

What’s Next

The admission process for these 24 seats is expected to begin in the upcoming counseling cycle. Then, the health department will focus on securing similar approvals for the GMCs in Baramulla and Doda. Finally, look for an official inauguration of the new super-specialty blocks in Srinagar by late 2026.

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