Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today inaugurated the new maternity block at Shri Maharaja Gulab Singh (SMGS) Hospital here. Minister for Health & Medical Education Sakina Itoo, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Jammu East Yudhvir Sethi, Secretary Health & Medical Education Syed Abid Rasheed, Managing Director J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Limited Tariq Hussain Ganai, Principal Government Medical College Jammu Dr Ashutosh Gupta, Administrator (Associated Hospitals), Jammu, R.K. Katoch, Medical Superintendent, SMGS Hospital, Dr. Dara Singh, Head of Department, Pediatrics, Dr. Sanjiv Digra, Head of Department, Gynaecology, Dr. Robina Mirza, other senior officers of Health & Medical Education Department and officers of PWD, Mechanical Division & Electric Division.
The maternity block has been constructed at a project cost of ₹31.59 crore, with the Public Works (R&B) Department as the executing agency. The multi-storey maternity block has been equipped with enhanced maternal and neonatal care facilities, including 50 beds on the ground floor with critical care and delivery services, a 24-bed OT complex on the first floor, and 84 beds each on the second and third floors.
The Chief Minister also inspected various units and wards of the new block and interacted with hospital staff to review the facilities available for patients. The block, constructed with modern facilities including labour rooms, five Operation theatres (OTs), One Emergency Operation Theatre, NICU wards, recovery areas and other support services has been built to address the heavy patient load and improve delivery and newborn care capacity at the hospital.
The newly inaugurated maternity block, equipped with modern infrastructure and advanced medical facilities, is a major step towards strengthening maternal and child healthcare services in the Jammu region. The facility is expected to significantly reduce patient load and enhance the quality of care for mothers and newborns. Medical Superintendents from Associated Hospitals, Doctors of other Departments, paramedical staff, and other officials were also present during the event.