All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jammu, has formally submitted a proposal to the Union health ministry for the establishment of a dedicated Institute of Traumatology and a Centre for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare, marking a significant development in the Union Territory’s medical infrastructure.
The proposal outlines plans to collaborate with leading institutions from Israel and the United Kingdom to develop the specialised facilities and strengthen trauma care and AI-enabled health services in the region.
The Institute of Traumatology is planned to be the first of its kind in India, addressing the high burden of trauma cases in the multi-hazard-prone Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which faces threats from earthquakes, floods, landslides, avalanches, snowstorms, road accidents, fires and terror-related incidents.
AIIMS-Jammu currently operates a functional Trauma and Emergency Department, which has managed a substantial number of cases and is expected to serve as the foundation for the full-scale institute in a later phase of development.
AIIMS-Jammu is reportedly exploring collaboration with Israel’s Sheba Medical Centre, recognised as one of the world’s foremost trauma care institutions, for training and technical support in trauma management. The proposed Centre for AI in healthcare aims to enhance patient care through AI-enabled diagnostics, predictive medicine and clinical decision support to improve the speed and accuracy of treatment while reducing costs.
The AIIMS-Jammu campus in Vijaypur, Samba district, is also preparing to introduce several new facilities in the coming months, including open-heart surgery, as part of its expansion. The institute’s governing body has approved multiple centres of excellence in areas such as ophthalmology, dental sciences, comprehensive cancer care, robotics and techno-surgery, telemedicine and telecare, predictive medical technology, research and international collaborations, quality and patient safety, and simulation and skill development. Plans are underway to make the institute completely paperless within the next three months.
AIIMS-Jammu currently has operational capacity for 400 beds, with approval granted for 750 beds that will be phased in as expansion continues, and recruitment is ongoing to fill faculty and staff positions. A significant proportion of the workforce, including faculty, senior residents and nursing staff, comprises local residents, and women account for a majority of the administrative and support staff.
The proposal reflects AIIMS-Jammu’s broader strategic vision to boost specialised trauma care and integrate advanced AI technologies into healthcare delivery, potentially positioning the institute as a regional and national hub for comprehensive, multidisciplinary clinical services.
