LEH: More than 33 senior super-specialist doctors and surgeons from AIIMS New Delhi have begun offering free consultations, specialised treatment and complex surgical procedures at Sonam Norboo Memorial (SNM) Hospital, Leh, as part of a four-day medical outreach programme aimed at improving access to tertiary healthcare in Ladakh.
The super-speciality medical camp, organised by Ashoka Mission in collaboration with the Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh, is being held from September 14 to 17 and has brought specialists from several major medical disciplines to Leh.
The visiting delegation includes specialists in ophthalmology, orthopaedics, gastroenterology, cardiology, oncology, urology, neurology and general surgery, among other fields. The doctors are providing outpatient consultations to patients from across Ladakh and are also undertaking cases requiring specialised surgical intervention.
Among the procedures planned at SNM Hospital are knee and hip joint replacements, besides specialised oncological and urological surgeries. The availability of such procedures locally is expected to reduce the need for patients to travel outside Ladakh for treatment, particularly in cases where advanced medical intervention would otherwise require referral to tertiary hospitals in major cities.
The programme also includes a professional training component, with the visiting AIIMS specialists conducting hands-on training, knowledge-sharing and skill-upgradation sessions for doctors and paramedical personnel at SNM Hospital.
Dedicated counselling facilities and expedited referral channels to AIIMS New Delhi are also being established for patients whose conditions require advanced tertiary treatment or prolonged specialised care beyond the facilities available in Ladakh.
The outreach assumes particular importance for patients from remote and economically vulnerable communities, for whom travelling outside the Union Territory for specialised treatment can involve substantial financial and logistical difficulties.
Speaking about the initiative, Ashoka Mission General Secretary Tashi Motup said the organisation remained committed to making specialised healthcare more accessible to the people of Ladakh, particularly those who face geographical and financial constraints in seeking treatment outside the Union Territory.
The camp is also intended to strengthen the capacity of the local healthcare system by facilitating direct interaction between AIIMS specialists and medical professionals at SNM Hospital. The exchange is expected to provide local doctors and paramedical staff with exposure to specialised clinical practices and procedures.
Following the Leh leg of the outreach, the medical team will travel to Kargil, where similar consultations and specialised healthcare services will be extended to patients.
The initiative comes as access to advanced healthcare remains a major concern in the high-altitude Union Territory, where geographical isolation and long distances can make referrals to specialised centres outside Ladakh difficult for many patients.
