The Jammu and Kashmir government is mulling to establish an independent medical university in the state to cater to the growing demands of a large number of government and private medical colleges, the state health minister said today.

As a preliminary move, a four-member committee headed by additional secretary health and medical education has been constituted to suggest ways and means for setting up this "vital institution after detailed study of modalities and viability", an official spokesperson said. The panel will be headed by additional secretary health and medical education with representatives from Jammu University, Medical and Dental Colleges which would suggest ways and means for setting up this institution after detailed study of modalities and viability. The decision was taken in a meeting convened by state Health Minister Bali Bhagat to explore the possibility of establishing an independent medical university in the state.

He said at present, there are more than two dozen medical institutes, including nursing and para-medical colleges and schools in the state which are affiliated to the Kashmir and Jammu universities and many more are coming up. "In order to cater to the growing demands of a large number of government and private medical colleges, including dental, AYUSH, para-medical and physiotherapy institutions across the state, the government is mulling establishing an independent Medical University in Jammu and Kashmir," Bhagat said.

In absence of an exclusive medical university in the state, these institutes are confronted with multiple issues related to their academic activities vis-a-vis admissions, counselling, timely conduct of exams, results and other allied issues. The two main universities in the state are catering to the needs of thousands of students from all three regions. As the medical colleges are also affiliated with them, they are overburdened, the spokesperson said.