STATE TIMES NEWS
KARGIL: The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, on Tuesday described the inauguration of a modern 3 Tesla MRI facility at District Hospital Kargil as a proud and historic moment not only for Kargil but for the entire Union Territory of Ladakh. He said the facility would ensure that people living in remote, hilly and border areas are no longer deprived of world-class diagnostic services due to geographical or climatic challenges.
The Lt Governor dedicated the state-of-the-art MRI facility to the people of Kargil in the presence of CEC LAHDC Kargil Dr. Jaffer Akhoon, Member of Parliament Mohd Hanifa Jan, Executive Councillors, and special guests including Chief Secretary Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Principal Secretary Sanjeev Khirwar, Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Kumar, SSP Nitin Yadav, Director Health Services Dr. Tashi Thinles, senior officers, religious heads, medical staff and students.
Highlighting Ladakh’s harsh terrain, long winters and difficult connectivity, Shri Kavinder Gupta said healthcare delivery in the region has historically been challenging. However, he noted that sustained efforts in recent years have ensured that remoteness is no longer a barrier to quality medical care. He said the installation of advanced diagnostic technology reflects the government’s commitment to equitable healthcare and strengthening public health infrastructure.
The Lt Governor emphasized that the 3 Tesla MRI will enable faster and more accurate diagnosis of complex diseases. Earlier, patients from Kargil had to travel to Srinagar, Jammu, Chandigarh or Delhi, causing financial strain and mental stress. With the facility now available locally, patients and their families will receive significant relief.
He informed that nearly 8.76 percent of Ladakh’s total budget is allocated to the health sector, higher than the national average. Ongoing projects include a proposal to increase District Hospital Kargil’s capacity from 100 to 200 beds, construction of a new 300-bed hospital block costing Rs 61 crore, staff quarters, an administrative block, a TB hospital, and the Rs 81-crore CHC Zanskar project.
CEC Dr. Jaffer Akhoon termed the facility a major milestone and thanked the administration for prioritizing Kargil. Chief Secretary Dr. Pawan Kotwal said the MRI facility marks a significant step toward timely diagnosis and quality healthcare delivery in the region.
