Srinagar, Nov 3: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has constituted a high-level committee of specialists and stakeholders to assess deficiencies in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) services across the Union Territory and prepare a time-bound roadmap for strengthening critical-care facilities in line with the Supreme Court’s directions.
According to Government Order No. 757-JK (HME) of 2026, dated November 3, issued by the Health and Medical Education Department and accessed by the news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the committee has been directed to submit a consolidated draft Action Plan/Roadmap within 15 days.
The move follows directions issued by the Supreme Court in Civil Appeal No. 8402/2016, titled Asit Baran Mondal & Anr. Vs. Dr Rita Sinha & Ors., particularly its orders dated May 20 and September 21, 2026, concerning the implementation of guidelines for the organisation and delivery of ICU services.
Headed by the Head of the Department of Anaesthesiology/Critical Care at Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu, the committee will assess the preparedness of healthcare institutions to provide Level-I, Level-II and Level-III ICU services and identify gaps in infrastructure, medical equipment, specialist doctors, nursing and allied healthcare staff, infection control and patient safety.
Representatives from the Critical Care Medicine Department of SKIMS Soura and GMC Srinagar will be among its members. Heads of Anaesthesiology/Critical Care Departments of other government medical colleges, including GMC Anantnag, Baramulla, Kathua, Rajouri, Doda, Udhampur and Handwara, have also been included.
The panel will additionally comprise the Additional Secretary (Law), Health and Medical Education Department; Deputy Secretary (MR), who will function as Member Secretary; General Manager, Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL); Deputy Directors of Health Services Jammu and Kashmir; a representative from the Accounts Service to be nominated by the Director Finance; and representatives of two selected private hospitals having established ICU and critical-care facilities.
Among its key responsibilities, the committee will review existing ICU guidelines, the compliance matrix and gap analysis reports to identify institution-wise deficiencies against prescribed standards for different levels of critical-care services.
It will formulate a time-bound strategy to address shortages of specialists, doctors, nurses and trained healthcare personnel, besides assessing requirements for equipment, infrastructure, medical utilities, infection prevention and control, safety arrangements and specialised training.
The committee has also been tasked with exploring ways to strengthen Tele-ICU and tele-consultation facilities across J&K, including mechanisms for real-time information on ICU bed availability and improved referral linkages between healthcare institutions to facilitate timely treatment of critically ill patients.
It will examine the adequacy of ambulance and referral services and recommend measures to ensure the availability of appropriately equipped ambulances capable of transporting and stabilising critically ill patients.
The compliance of private hospitals operating ICU and critical-care facilities with prescribed guidelines will also come under review, with the panel mandated to suggest corrective measures wherever deficiencies are identified.
Special attention will be given to healthcare institutions in hilly, remote and geographically difficult areas, where the committee will assess specific challenges, review existing interventions and recommend suitable measures with clearly defined timelines.
To strengthen critical-care infrastructure, the panel will also explore permissible funding avenues, including Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), assistance from non-governmental organisations and other authorised sources.
The consolidated action plan will identify institution-wise gaps, proposed corrective measures, financial and resource requirements, implementing agencies and timelines for execution.
The draft roadmap will be submitted to the Commissioner/Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department, within 15 days of issuance of the order. The department will examine its technical feasibility, administrative implications, financial requirements and conformity with the Supreme Court’s directions before placing it before the competent authority for approval.
Following approval, the roadmap will be circulated among government medical colleges, SKIMS, Directorates of Health Services, JKMSCL and other implementing agencies for execution within the prescribed timelines.
The committee will periodically review implementation, assess progress, identify pending deficiencies and report bottlenecks requiring government intervention.
The order further empowers the committee to invite specialists, technical experts and officers from other departments or institutions and seek information required to complete its assignment.
The Health and Medical Education Department will provide secretarial and logistical support, while heads of concerned institutions and departments have been directed to extend cooperation and furnish the requisite information and data.
