Srinagar City has always been a hub of tertiary health care, for the people living in rural districts. The British doctors who visited Kashmir during Dogra rule established some health centres and missionary hospitals at various places including Rainawari, Drugjan, Tangmarg, Anantnag, Baramulla, and provided a dedicated healthcare service to the people of Valley. With the passage of time the Dogra rulers also took many measures for the improvement of health care in J&K. They laid the foundation of two major hospitals namely SMHS and SMGS hospitals in Srinagar and Jammu. This was a great leap in the health sector of J&K state. After 1947, G.M.Bakshi established first medical college known as GMC in Srinagar. He also opened chain of dispensaries, primary health centres and hospitals in towns and rural districts. The medical education received a big boost by opening 2nd govt medical college at Jammu. During the 2nd term, as C.M. Sheikh M Abdullah paid special attention towards health sector, laying foundation of premier super specialty hospital in the shape of SKIMS at Soura, besides establishing Lal Ded Hospital, exclusively for women in Srinagar. 

However, the health sector got a big setback with the onset of militancy in valley after 1990. But we must, appreciate the brave heart doctors who served during those trying times when the militancy was at its peak. When peace returned and situation improved in the coming years, Ghulam Nabi Azad as Union Health Minister during Manmohan Singh’s tenure as P.M. gave further........

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