Meets faculty, tours patient care services, discusses challenges, future plans with medical staff

SRINAGAR: Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, visited Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) on Tuesday, where he engaged with the faculty and toured various patient care services to assess the institute’s progress and provide strategic guidance.

During his visit, Dulloo held a detailed interaction with SKIMS faculty members in the SKIMS Board Room. The session began with a welcome address by Dr. Fazlul Qadir Parray, Professor and Head of the Colorectal Surgery Unit. Prof. Farooq A. Jan, Medical Superintendent, presented an overview of SKIMS’ performance under the leadership of Director SKIMS/ EOSG, Prof. M. Ashraf Ganie, over the past 100 days. He emphasized significant improvements in patient care, including the first-phase revamp of the Emergency Department, which was a critical administrative challenge. The presentation also touched upon the institute’s academic accomplishments and recent collaborations with renowned institutions across the country.

Professor Shariq Masoodi, Dean of the Medical Faculty, thanked the Chief Secretary for his visit and ongoing support. He highlighted SKIMS’ journey from offering a single MD program in Medicine to becoming an institute with over 50 courses in diverse medical and allied fields. Prof. Masoodi acknowledged the challenges SKIMS faces but praised its advancements, particularly in offering DM, MCh, and PhD programs. He also revealed aspirations for SKIMS to evolve into a full-fledged medical university, which would enable the institution to offer more programs and provide critical support to other medical institutions in Jammu and Kashmir.

Director SKIMS, Prof. M. Ashraf Ganie, expressed deep appreciation for Dulloo’s visit and support. He reiterated the vital role SKIMS plays in healthcare and medical education and conveyed confidence in its future as a model institution for healthcare services across India.

Senior faculty members, including Dr. Jaswinder Singh, Senior Professor of Gastroenterology, and Dr. Muzaffar Maqsood Wani, Executive Secretary of the SKIMS Faculty Forum, presented the Chief Secretary with key challenges faced by the faculty, highlighting areas that require attention.

In his address, Dulloo commended SKIMS for its significant contributions to healthcare and encouraged the institution to continue mentoring and coordinating with other medical colleges in the Union Territory. He assured that the government would provide full financial support to further enhance SKIMS’ professional and academic standing. Dulloo also addressed the critical issue of the drug menace, urging SKIMS to actively participate in combating this problem, with government backing for actionable plans.

Dulloo emphasized the importance of balancing infrastructure development with advancements in academics and research, encouraging SKIMS to align its academic courses with National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines and match the performance of premier institutions like AIIMS.

During his visit, the Chief Secretary toured various departments, including the Cath Lab, Wards, Operation Theatre Block, Surgical and Pulmonary ICUs, State Cancer Institute, Emergency Department, and other key facilities. He interacted with faculty, staff, and patients, accompanied by Director SKIMS, Prof. Ganie, senior faculty members, and administrative officers.

KR Desk