Moving beyond promise

The prolonged delay in operationalising AIIMS Awantipora is no longer merely an administrative concern but has become a question of healthcare access for the people of Kashmir. With the promised August 2026 deadline for starting outpatient services having passed, the government must provide clarity and more importantly, action. AIIMS Awantipora was conceived as a transformative healthcare institution for the region. Its planned capacity of around 1,000 beds, including 300 super-speciality beds, along with a medical college and nursing college, could substantially strengthen specialised healthcare in Kashmir. But infrastructure of this scale serves little purpose if patients cannot access even basic OPD services. The comparison with AIIMS Jammu has understandably added to public frustration. Both institutions were sanctioned in 2019, yet their operational timelines have been markedly different. While there may be legitimate reasons for delays at Awantipora, including litigation, the pandemic, security-related issues, weather and labour constraints, people deserve a transparent account of the present status. The demand to begin OPD services in completed or ready portions of the institute merits serious consideration. Healthcare projects need not always wait for every component to be finished before delivering benefits to the public. If the required facilities, manpower and equipment are available, phased operationalisation should be explored. For families dealing with cancer, cardiac ailments, neurological disorders and other serious conditions, travelling outside J&K is expensive and emotionally exhausting. A functioning AIIMS in Kashmir could reduce both the financial and logistical burden on patients. The Union Health Ministry and J&K administration must therefore publish a realistic, time-bound roadmap for OPD and subsequent inpatient and emergency services. Periodic extensions without visible progress will only deepen public distrust. AIIMS Awantipora should not become another symbol of delayed promises. Kashmir has waited long enough; what is needed now is a functioning institution and a firm deadline that is actually honoured.