In a major initiative, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India (GoI) on Friday accorded sanction to two more new Government Medical Colleges under centrally sponsored schemes—to be established at Leh & Udhampur districts of Jammu and Kashmir.The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has approved the proposals submitted by the Health & Medical Education Department, Jammu and Kashmir for establishment of new Government Medical Colleges at Leh & Udhampur at an estimated cost of Rs 325 crore each. The officials said that the new Medical Colleges are attached with existing district, referral hospital under Phase-III. Divulging details about the breakup of the budget, the officials said that Rs 115 crores would be spent on the construction of the medical college, Rs 80 crore for hostels and residences of students and faculty, while as Rs 70 crores would be spent on the equipments and Rs 60 crores for the up-gradation of the teaching hospital.Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education, Atal Dulloo informed that the proposal submitted for Government Medical College, Handwara was under consideration. He said that the meeting of the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) for reviewing the project proposal has been fixed on October 10, 2019 at Nirman Bhawan New Delhi which shall be attended by the senior officers of Health & Medical Education Department. He hoped that the proposal will be cleared during this meeting.Director Coordination, new Medical Colleges, J&K, Dr. Yashpal Sharma said that the move of establishment of two new colleges would give a major boost to the Health and Medical Education sector across the state—besides improving the present scenario of patient care in these districts. Pertinent to mention that with the sanctioning of two more new Medical Colleges, the total strength of Government Medical Colleges has increased to 10 across the State. It may be also recalled that the Governor- led administration has been instrumental in taking up several ambitious developmental projects with the government of India. The establishment of new government medical collages and their functioning was a milestone achieved by the administration in record time.