Sher i Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences

30/01/2026

Attention All Concerned:

26/01/2026

Director SKIMS/EOSG, Prof. M. Ashraf Ganie, unfurled the National Flag during an impressive Republic Day function coordinated by the Estates Department, SKIMS.

In his Republic Day address, Prof. Ashraf highlighted the major milestones and institutional achievements across multiple fronts. He stated that the mission of service at SKIMS is deeply rooted in the ideals envisioned by the Father of the Constitution of India, and emphasized that despite operational challenges, the institute continues to maintain a strong and progressive growth trajectory.
He acknowledged the collective contribution of employees from all cadres, remarking that the institution’s journey forward is a shared effort, with staff working “shoulder to shoulder.” He described SKIMS as a guiding light and mentor institution, known for quality research, advanced clinical services, and accountability.
The Director further noted that appreciation for SKIMS’ work has come from the public, policymakers, and government authorities, including the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor and Hon’ble Chief Minister, as well as through social and print media. He also referred to the recent AI Summit, where national-level recognition was reflected through the participation of Dr. V.K. Paul, Member, NITI Aayog.
Highlighting institutional development, Prof. Ashraf spoke about initiatives undertaken on a fast-track basis, including:
• Expansion of specialized medical services
• Upgradation of emergency care facilities
• Employee promotions
• Filling of referred posts through recruiting agencies
He stated that further scaling up of human resources and essential services is expected in the near future.
The ceremonial parade was jointly led by SKIMS Security, Jammu & Kashmir Police (JKP), and CRPF personnel. A traditional Kashmiri Rouf cultural performance by students of IDPS School, Budgam, added a vibrant cultural touch to the celebrations.
The event was attended by senior administrators, faculty members, and staff of SKIMS.

Omar Abdullah
Office of LG, J&K
Press Information Bureau - PIB, Government of India
DIPR, Department of Information & Public Relations
Greater Kashmir
The Rising Kashmir
Free Press Kashmir
Kashmir Observer

26/01/2026

Glimpses of Republic Day at SKIMS 🇮🇳
A celebration of commitment, teamwork, and silent contributors.
Every appreciation, every acknowledgement, every word of encouragement strengthens the spirit of service.

26/01/2026

PRESS RELEASE

Director SKIMS Unfurls National Flag on 77th Republic Day

Srinagar, January 26:
The 77th Republic Day was celebrated with patriotic fervour at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) today, where Director SKIMS/ EOSG Prof. M. Ashraf Ganie, unfurled the National Flag during an impressive function coordinated by the Estates Department, SKIMS.

In his Republic Day address, Prof. Ashraf highlighted the major milestones and institutional achievements across multiple fronts. He stated that the mission of service at SKIMS is deeply rooted in the ideals envisioned by the Father of the Constitution of India, and emphasized that despite operational challenges, the institute continues to maintain a strong and progressive growth trajectory.
He acknowledged the collective contribution of employees from all cadres, remarking that the institution’s journey forward is a shared effort, with staff working “shoulder to shoulder.” He described SKIMS as a guiding light and mentor institution, known for quality research, advanced clinical services, and accountability.
The Director further noted that appreciation for SKIMS’ work has come from the public, policymakers, and government authorities, including the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor and Hon’ble Chief Minister, as well as through social and print media. He also referred to the recent AI Summit, where national-level recognition was reflected through the participation of Dr. V.K. Paul, Member, NITI Aayog.
Highlighting institutional development, Prof. Ashraf spoke about initiatives undertaken on a fast-track basis, including:
Expansion of specialized medical services
Upgradation of emergency care facilities
Employee promotions,
Filling of referred posts through recruiting agencies,
He stated that further scaling up of human resources and essential services is expected in the near future.
The ceremonial parade was jointly led by SKIMS Security, Jammu & Kashmir Police (JKP), and CRPF personnel. A traditional Kashmiri Rouf cultural performance was presented by students of IDPS School, Budgam, adding a cultural touch to the celebrations.
The event was attended by senior administrators, faculty members, and staff of SKIMS.

Issued Through:

Assistant Director PR SKIMS

22/01/2026

*SKIMS Hosts Official Pre-Summit of India AI Impact Summit 2026, Charts New Course for AI-Driven Healthcare in Kashmir*
Global experts, policymakers and health leaders deliberate on “Transforming Healthcare through Intelligent Technologies in the Kashmir Valley”














Srinagar, January 22, 2026:
Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) today hosted a day-long Official Pre-Summit Event of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, positioning Jammu & Kashmir at the forefront of India’s rapidly evolving Artificial Intelligence–enabled healthcare ecosystem.

Held under the theme “Transforming Healthcare through Intelligent Technologies in the Kashmir Valley,” the high-profile event brought together leading policymakers, global experts, academicians and healthcare leaders for outcome-driven deliberations on leveraging AI to strengthen healthcare delivery, research, governance and public health systems.

The inaugural session featured keynote addresses by experts from Harvard University, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health / Centre for Global Digital Health Innovation (USA), AIIMS, IITs, and other leading international technology institutions. Speakers examined emerging opportunities, operational challenges, ethical dimensions and real-world implementation of AI in healthcare.

AI as a Catalyst for India’s Health Systems
Addressing the gathering virtually, Prof. V. K. Paul, Member, NITI Aayog, presented a comprehensive overview of AI integration within India’s health systems, underscoring its transformative role in service delivery, diagnostics, telemedicine, capacity building and flagship programmes such as Ayushman Bharat.

“Given the complexity and scale of India’s public health landscape, Artificial Intelligence can significantly enhance decision-making—from precision interventions to local-level action and forecasting,” Prof. Paul noted. He lauded SKIMS for its sustained contributions to healthcare and commended the leadership of Director SKIMS, Prof. Mohd Ashraf Ganie.

‘AI Cannot Replace Human Empathy’
The Chief Guest, Padma Shri Awardee Prof. Digambar Behera, President, National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), highlighted how AI is redefining disease diagnosis and treatment through precision medicine and improved clinical decision-making.

“AI can optimize workflows, strengthen chronic disease management and improve public health systems. However, it cannot replace human empathy—it can only augment and strengthen healthcare systems,” he emphasized.

SKIMS to Emerge as an AI-in-Healthcare Hub
Addressing the audience, Director SKIMS & EOSG, Prof. Mohd Ashraf Ganie, announced that SKIMS is poised to emerge as a regional hub for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, with the objective of reshaping health systems across Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

He informed that on the eve of the Pre-Summit, SKIMS launched a new Department of Clinical Repository Information & Technology, aimed at strengthening data readiness, enhancing research capacity and enabling ethical AI-driven healthcare delivery.

“AI is already circumventing many traditional pathways in drug discovery, diagnostics and patient data utilization. It has revolutionized patient care in areas such as diabetes management, making interventions faster, more precise and clinically efficient,” Prof. Ganie said.

Reiterating the primacy of ethics and compassion in medicine, he added, “AI stems from the human brain. The human interface will remain central to ensure compassionate, ethical and humane patient care.”

Prof. Ganie further noted that the event holds special significance as SKIMS is among the select institutions nationally chosen to host Official Pre-Summit Events leading up to the India AI Impact Summit 2026, to be inaugurated in New Delhi by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi.

Government and Academia Extend Support
The Guest of Honour, Dr. Piyush Singla (IAS), Secretary, Department of Information Technology, Government of Jammu & Kashmir, praised SKIMS for hosting the landmark event. Drawing from global best practices, he stressed the importance of data readiness, measurable outcomes and robust implementation frameworks.

“SKIMS has immense clinical depth and institutional expertise. If leveraged effectively, Jammu & Kashmir can emerge as a national reference point in AI-driven healthcare,” he said, emphasizing the need for capacity building in systems and governance, beyond mere tool-based training.

Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Shri Akshay Labroo, assured full administrative support and highlighted that district-level databases are already operational, paving the way for collaboration with SKIMS.

The event was also addressed by Prof. Nilofer Khan, Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir, and Prof. Shaukat A. Gurcoo, Dean, Medical Faculty, who emphasized interdisciplinary collaboration in digital health and research.

Key Deliberation Themes
The Pre-Summit featured multiple plenary sessions and panel discussions on:

Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

Research Priorities in Digital Health

AI-Driven Healthcare Transformation in India

AI for Cancer Research and Genetics

About the Pre-Summit Event
The Official Pre-Summit Event was organized by the Skill Development Unit (Centre of One Health), SKIMS, in collaboration with DataLEADS and the Multidisciplinary Research Unit (MRU), SKIMS, with support from the Department of Information Technology, Government of Jammu & Kashmir.

SKIMS is among a select group of institutions nationwide chosen to host Official Pre-Summit Events under the India AI Impact Summit 2026 framework, culminating in the national summit in New Delhi.

Issued Through Office of AD/ PR SKIMS

Narendra Modi
INDIAai
Digital India
Ashwini Vaishnaw
Jitin Prasada
Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India
Press Information Bureau - PIB, Government of India

22/01/2026

AI Summit 2026, SKIMS

21/01/2026

20/01/2026

Key Note Speakers of Pre AI Summit SKIMS

20/01/2026

Irfan Tramboo Srinagar, Jan 19: The Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, is set to host first-ever dedicated Artificial Intelligence (AI) summit on healthcare on January 22. Titled ‘Transforming Healthcare Through Intelligent Technologies in the Kashmir Valley,’ the event...

19/01/2026

Press Release

SKIMS To host the Official Pre-Summit Event of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 on 22 January 2026, themed “Transforming Healthcare Through Responsible Artificial Intelligence.”

SKIMS will host the Official Pre-Summit Event of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 on 22 January 2026 at SKIMS, Soura, themed “Transforming Healthcare Through Responsible Artificial Intelligence.” The pre-summit event will be conducted as SKIMS Artificial Intelligence Summit 2026, the first dedicated summit ,AI in-healthcare in Jammu & Kashmir, that has been officially affiliated/approved by the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, under the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 framework.

Speaking about the upcoming event, Prof. Mohd Ashraf Ganie, Director, SKIMS & EOSG, stated that the pre-summit will serve as a vital platform to deliberate on the ethical, safe, and impactful integration of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare, with strong emphasis on patient safety, accountability, transparency and public trust.
The event will bring together policy makers, clinicians, healthcare professionals, researchers and technology experts to examine how responsible AI can strengthen healthcare delivery, enhance patient outcomes and build future-ready health systems.

The summit is being organised by the Skill Development Unit, Centre of One Health SKIMS, in collaboration with DataLEADS and the Multidisciplinary Research Unit (MRU), SKIMS. The summit will focus on the role of Artificial Intelligence in:
Enhancing diagnostics
Improving patient safety
Strengthening biomedical research
Streamlining hospital operations
Ethical governance, privacy and data protection

The key programme highlights of the summit include: Plenary panel discussions on AI in clinical medicine, diagnostics, hospital management and medical education, Panel deliberations on data privacy, protection and ethical AI governance, a dedicated session on responsible use of AI in hospitals,
hands-on workshops on AI preparedness for healthcare professionals, 
exposure to emerging AI-driven health technologies, opportunities for academic–industry collaboration and partnerships and focus on SKIMS/Valley-specific AI solutions

The summit aims to identify SKIMS/Valley-specific operational challenges and explore pilot AI solutions to improve healthcare delivery systems, including:
Triage optimisation
ICU monitoring
Billing automation
Bed management and hospital workflow optimisation
The summit aligns with key national initiatives including:
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)
Digital India
IndiaAI Mission
National and global participation

The summit will also be supported by the Information Technology Department Govt. of J&K and National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS) as a partnering institution. Prof. Digamber Behera, Padma Shri awardee and President, NAMS, a nationally renowned pulmonologist and medical leader, will attend the summit.Other eminent speakers from across India and abroad include experts from ICMR, AIIMS New Delhi, IIT Madras, IIT Mandi, KMMS (UK), PwC India, Denmark, DataLEADS and other institutions.
As healthcare remains among the most impactful and sensitive domains for AI deployment, it requires contextual adaptation, strong ethical safeguards, and robust governance frameworks. Jammu & Kashmir, with its unique geographic and demographic characteristics and healthcare delivery challenges, offers an important setting to explore region-specific AI use cases aligned with national priorities.

The SKIMS Artificial Intelligence Summit 2026 has been conceived as a sector-focused and evidence-driven Pre-Summit Event designed to generate healthcare-specific insights and policy inputs, identify operational challenges, and propose scalable AI solutions tailored for institutions like SKIMS and the broader healthcare ecosystem.

The India-AI Impact Summit 2026 is a flagship initiative of the Government of India, guided and overseen through high-level governmental mechanisms reflecting its strategic national importance. It aims to shape India’s AI trajectory in alignment with national development goals, ethical governance, and public good outcomes.
As an officially affiliated Pre-Summit Event, the SKIMS AI Summit 2026 forms an integral component of the national summit ecosystem by contributing domain-specific healthcare perspectives to national deliberations, aligning regional healthcare priorities with national AI policy frameworks, and supporting translation of the national AI vision into sector- and institution-level action.

Healthcare professionals, allied stakeholders, researchers and innovators are encouraged to participate and be part of this nationally significant dialogue shaping the future of healthcare in India.

13/01/2026

SKIMS Faculty Forum Mourns Demise of Father of Dr. Natasha Thakur, Associate Professor, Department of General Surgery

12/01/2026

SKIMS Modernises Emergency OT with State-of-the-Art Equipment to Strengthen Emergency Care

To further enhance and give a major boost to Emergency Care services, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) has modernised its Emergency Operation Theatre (OT) by installing state-of-the-art surgical equipment, enabling rapid, safe and advanced emergency interventions.
Major Additions to Emergency OT
✅ C-Arm (Mobile Imaging Unit):
The C-Arm facility will significantly strengthen emergency surgery services by enabling:
Advanced neurolosurgical spine-related interventions
Enhanced precision in orthopaedic and plastic surgery procedures.
Real-time imaging support in coordination with high end ultrasound machine to improve surgical outcomes in other specialities
✅ Laparoscope:
The laparoscopic facility will allow minimally invasive emergency surgeries, leading to:
Reduced post-operative pain and complications
Shorter hospital stay and faster recovery
Improved patient outcomes in acute surgical emergencies
Strengthened emergency response capability for abdominal and trauma-related conditions

The upgraded Emergency OT facility was reviewed & Inaugurated in the presence of:
Director SKIMS / EOSG, Prof. M. Ashraf Ganie, along with Dean Medical Faculty, Prof. Showkat A. Gurcoo, Medical Superintendent SKIMS Prof Farooq A Jan, Head Emergency, Prof. Abrar A. Wani, besides senior faculty and administrative heads including:HOD General Surgery, Prof. Aijaz Mallik HOD Paediatric Surgery, Prof. Nisar A. Bhat Director Finance SKIMS, Dr. Manzoor Ahmad Wani and other senior officials.
The initiative is aimed at ensuring timely, technology-enabled emergency surgery care, aligned with SKIMS’ continuous commitment to strengthen advanced patient care, especially in high-load emergency settings.

Issued Through PR Office SKIMS