SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo yesterday held an in-depth discussion with Dr. V.K. Paul, Member of NITI Aayog, on the establishment of Tele-ICU facilities across the newly established Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) in Jammu and Kashmir.
During the meeting, Dr. Paul shared insights from successful Tele-ICU models implemented nationwide by leading health technology providers, including Apollo Tele Health, Medanta, Cloudphysician, and Health Net. He emphasized the importance of studying these models to identify strategies suitable for J&K hospitals.
Dr. Paul advised that each hospital’s needs, aspirations, and existing infrastructure must be carefully assessed before rolling out the Tele-ICU initiative. He also highlighted the critical role of capacity building and staff training in ensuring the success of this technology-driven healthcare model.
Expressing gratitude for Dr. Paul’s guidance, the Chief Secretary reaffirmed the UT administration’s commitment to innovative healthcare solutions. He explained that J&K plans to implement Tele-ICU facilities under a hub-and-spoke model, providing 24×7 critical care monitoring and expert consultation. Newly established GMCs would serve as spokes linked to a central hub and command centre within the UT.
The Chief Secretary proposed sending a J&K expert team to leading healthcare institutions across India to study the functioning of Tele-ICUs and their command centres. He noted that while J&K faces unique challenges due to its topography and limited human resources, the administration is determined to develop solutions tailored to the region.
He further stressed the need to establish a state-of-the-art hub within J&K, supported by technology partners, which would train local healthcare professionals and enable the creation of additional hubs to ensure wider coverage and uninterrupted Tele-ICU services.
Secretary of Health & Medical Education, Dr. Syed Abid Rashid Shah, stated that the department plans to set up at least a 10-bedded Tele-ICU in each new GMC and outlined the groundwork completed so far and the roadmap ahead. Director of SKIMS, Prof. Mohammad Ashraf Ganie, provided inputs based on the institute’s current critical care facilities and experience, while principals of various GMCs shared their perspectives on effective strategies for Tele-ICU rollout in J&K.
The discussions mark a significant step toward integrating advanced telemedicine technologies into J&K’s healthcare system, aimed at strengthening critical care delivery, particularly in underserved areas of the UT.
