After a rigorous evaluation, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has approved the launch of the DM Critical Care Medicine program at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, with an initial intake of two seats for the academic year 2024-25.
SKIMS announced the start of the program, with Director Prof. M. Ashraf Ganie calling it a major accomplishment for the institute.
He noted that the Department of Critical Care Medicine at SKIMS is the only separate and approved department in the Union Territory, catering to critically ill patients from major hospitals across J&K and national institutions.
Equipped with state-of-the-art ventilators and life-saving support systems, the department operates at 100% bed occupancy, underscoring the urgent need for expanded critical care facilities, he said.
Prof. Ashraf Ganie emphasized the need for a 200-bed Critical Care Block at SKIMS and highlighted the increasing demand for critical care facilities.
“There is a need to increase the number of critical care beds, not only in our institution but also in other institutions across the UT of J&K,” he said.
He added that the administration at the institute would make every effort to develop a detailed plan for the 200-bed Critical Care Block and submit it to the government for consideration.
Dean of Medical Faculty SKIMS, Prof. Shariq R. Masoodi, expressed his delight over the NMC approval, stating that it would elevate the quality of care for critically ill patients.
Meanwhile, the Department of Critical Care Medicine at SKIMS, headed by Dr. Mohamad Akbar Shah, expressed their gratitude to the Director of SKIMS, Dean of Medical Faculty, Head of the NMC Section Prof. Fazal Q. Parray, Additional Director, Medical Superintendent, and Academic Registrar for their efforts in making this program a reality.
