LG Sinha Unveils Vision for “Healthcare Anytime, Anywhere” at 3rd CII J&K Health Conclave
Srinagar, August 29, 2026: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday inaugurated the third edition of the CII Jammu & Kashmir Health Conclave, calling for a technology-driven, inclusive and resilient healthcare system that ensures accessible, affordable and equitable medical services for every citizen.
Emphasising the vision of “Health Services Anytime, Anywhere,” the Lieutenant Governor said innovation and technology must be harnessed to overcome geographical and economic barriers to healthcare, particularly in rural, remote and high-altitude areas.
“From telemedicine to drone-delivered blood units, AI-powered diagnostics to solar cold chains, the roadmap for the future healthcare is clear that accessible, affordable, equitable healthcare for all should be our prime objective,” LG Sinha said.
Extending his best wishes to Ujala Cygnus for its new initiative, the Peace and Wellbeing Foundation, the Lieutenant Governor described the conclave as an important platform for dialogue, collaboration and collective action to reshape healthcare delivery in Jammu & Kashmir and across the country.
Citing the example of an ASHA worker using tele-consultation to connect patients in remote villages with district hospitals, LG Sinha said telemedicine has emerged as a transformative tool capable of eliminating geographical barriers.
He stressed that technology should remain centred on human welfare and ensure that residents of even the remotest areas receive timely access to quality medical care.
The Lieutenant Governor urged stakeholders to make Jammu & Kashmir a testing ground for low-cost, high-impact healthcare innovations, including drone-based delivery of medicines and blood units and solar-powered cold-chain systems for health centres located in high-altitude areas.
Highlighting the challenges confronting healthcare systems globally, LG Sinha identified rising healthcare expenditure as a major concern and called for a greater emphasis on prevention, early intervention and regular screening.
“We need to move beyond a system that treats illness to one that protects and promotes health. We must prioritise regular screening, easy access to primary healthcare services and timely treatment,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor also stressed the need to expand medical and nursing education, strengthen the healthcare workforce and ensure the wellbeing of medical professionals.
“We need to expand training capacity in medical and nursing education and ensure access to health services in rural and remote areas through telemedicine. Most importantly, we must also take care of the wellbeing of our health workers. Better staffing, reduced administrative burden and mental-health support are fundamental requirements of a strong health system,” he said.
Referring to the digital transformation of healthcare under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Lieutenant Governor highlighted efforts to establish secure digital systems for linking health records across the country.
He said such systems could enable authorised doctors to access a patient's medical history quickly, while maintaining safeguards that allow patients to control who can access their health information.
Highlighting the expansion of healthcare infrastructure in Jammu & Kashmir, LG Sinha said the establishment of two AIIMS institutions, 10 new medical colleges, two State Cancer Institutes, specialised hospitals, including Bone and Joint and paediatric facilities, 52 nursing colleges, 23 paramedical colleges and five pharmacy colleges represents a significant step towards strengthening healthcare and advancing social justice.
He called upon the conclave to deliberate on key priorities, including the development of modern primary healthcare centres in every village, integrated with district-level health networks.
He also advocated greater use of artificial intelligence for early disease detection while ensuring that clinical decisions remain guided by medical professionals. Strengthening disease surveillance, expanding genomic capabilities, promoting local manufacturing of diagnostic kits and building a skilled healthcare workforce were identified as other key priorities.
The Lieutenant Governor further underlined the importance of sustained collaboration between the government and private sector in strengthening the healthcare ecosystem.
“Private hospitals and industries associated with the health sector must also join this effort, recognising it as an important task of nation-building. I believe that the strongest health systems are those in which the government and the private sector work together for public welfare, combining their capabilities, speed and innovation,” he said.
LG Sinha said the ultimate measure of healthcare development should be its impact on people's lives, particularly in underserved areas.
He envisioned a Jammu & Kashmir where families in Kupwara would not have to travel long distances for routine medical care, workers in Rajouri would be protected from financial distress caused by medical emergencies, and medical graduates would have opportunities to pursue their professional careers within the Union Territory.
“Advanced treatment and modern health facilities must be accessible to all so that we may establish the principles of social justice and equality. The health of an individual or a family affects opportunities, productivity and overall well-being of the society,” he said.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Iqram Ali Shafiee, Chairman, CII J&K UT Council; Dr Shuchin Bajaj, Founder Director, Ujala Cygnus Hospitals; Siddhant Choudhary, Vice Chairman, CII J&K; Dr Pervez Ahmad Sofi and Arafat Ahmad Bhat, Members of the Board of Directors, Peace and Wellbeing Foundation; Sajad Hussain Lone, members of the Confederation of Indian Industry and healthcare professionals.
Dr GV Sundeep Chakravarthy, SSP Srinagar; Akshay Labroo, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar; and senior government officials were also present.
