Over 200 ventilators non-functional in J&K hospitals: Govt

Mansoor Peer
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21 Feb 2026

Srinagar, Feb 20: Over 200 ventilators installed across major government medical colleges and associated hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir are currently non-functional, according to official data tabled in the Legislative Assembly. The details were provided in response to starred question by Shamim Firdous, MLA from Habba Kadal, Srinagar, regarding the status of ventilators in hospitals.

The Health and Medical Education Department provided a hospital-wise breakup of functional and defunct ventilators installed in GMCs, SKIMS, SMHS and other associated hospitals. As per the reply, Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu and its other associated hospitals have a total of 320 ventilators, of which 209 are functional while 111 are non-functional. At GMC Srinagar, a total of 249 ventilators are installed across its associated institutions. SMHS Hospital has 76 ventilators, including 68 functional and 8 non-functional. Other associated hospitals under GMC Srinagar have 173 ventilators, of which 129 are functional and 44 non-functional. The reply said that GMC Anantnag and its associated hospitals have 36 ventilators in total, with only 10 functional and 26 non-functional, one of the highest proportions of defunct units reported.

GMC Baramulla and its associated hospital have 41 ventilators, including 39 functional and 2 non-functional. GMC Doda and its associated hospital have 27 ventilators, of which 17 are functional and 10 non-functional. GMC Kathua and its associated hospital have 52 ventilators, with 50 functional and 2 non-functional. GMC Rajouri and its associated hospital have 54 ventilators, of which 51 are functional and 3 non-functional. GMC Udhampur and its associated hospital reported all 39 ventilators as functional, with no non-functional units. Similarly, GMC Handwara and its associated hospital have 6 ventilators, all of which are functional. At SKIMS, Soura and its associated hospital, there are 53 ventilators in total, including 40 functional and 13 non-functional. The data highlights significant disparities in the operational status of critical care equipment across institutions, with some hospitals reporting a substantial number of ventilators lying defunct. The reply was issued by the Minister In-charge, Health and Medical Education Department, and signed by the Under Secretary to the Government, Health and Medical Education Department.