The central government has given the green light for three new medical colleges in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh to improve medical education in underserved areas. As per the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Jammu & Kashmir will have new colleges in Udhampur and Handwara (Kupwara district), while Ladakh will get its first-ever medical college in Leh.
This move is part of a larger effort to expand healthcare education, with the government planning to set up 157 new medical colleges across India, especially in remote and border regions.
The goal of these new colleges is to make medical education more accessible and to fill the gap in healthcare professionals in these areas.
Jammu & Kashmir already has five medical colleges in Anantnag, Baramulla, Rajouri, Doda, and Kathua, established in earlier phases of the scheme. Additionally, the government has approved 196 postgraduate medical seats and 60 MBBS seats in various institutions to further strengthen medical education in the region.
