Srinagar, Sep 20 (JKNS): Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday inaugurated Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital at Qamarwari in Srinagar, the first facility of the group in the city and the fifth in Jammu and Kashmir.
Spread over 8,000 sq. ft. across three floors, the hospital is equipped with modern surgical theatres, advanced diagnostic systems, and specialized departments covering Cataract, Refractive Surgery, Retina, Glaucoma, Squint, Paediatric Ophthalmology, and Cornea care.
Addressing the gathering, LG Sinha as per news agency JKNS said Jammu and Kashmir has emerged among the leading regions in the country in healthcare development. “Before 2019, J&K had only four medical colleges. Today, the number has increased to 11, along with two AIIMS and a wide Indian System of Medicine network,” he said.
The LG highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s universal health coverage has extended ₹5 lakh health insurance to every citizen of J&K, significantly improving access to medical care. He added that in recent years, super-specialty hospitals, new colleges, and private facilities have transformed the health sector across both divisions of the Union Territory.
Expressing hope that the new hospital will deliver quality eye care comparable to metropolitan cities, Sinha urged the management to conduct regular outreach camps in rural and border areas.
The Srinagar facility will be headed by Dr. Atif Ali Mir, supported by Dr. Shazia Shafi, Dr. Athar Fayaz Shah, and Dr. Arshi Nazir Shikari. Senior experts including Dr. Kaladevi S. from Chennai will also visit regularly for consultations and advanced surgeries.
Dr. Ashar Agarwal, CBO of Dr. Agarwal’s Group of Eye Hospitals, said the expansion into Srinagar marked a significant step in bringing world-class eye care closer to people in Jammu and Kashmir. He noted that the group now has more than 250 hospitals across India and abroad.
Dr. Atif Ali Mir said the facility would enable delivery of the “full spectrum of advanced vision care” to the people of Srinagar and surrounding areas, reducing the need for patients to travel outside the region.
The inauguration was attended by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Ansul Garg, Commissioner Secretary Health & Medical Education Syed Abid Rashid Shah, and Commissioner Secretary Science & Technology Dr. Shahid Iqbal Chowdhary.
To mark the opening, free eye check-ups will be available at the hospital until October 31, 2025. (JKNS)
