13 of 53 Ventilators Non-Functional at SKIMS Soura; Duration of Breakdown Remains Unclear
Government Disclosure in Assembly Raises Questions Over Critical Care Infrastructure; Procurement Bid for New Ventilators Later Cancelled
SRINAGAR: Serious questions have emerged over the availability and maintenance of critical-care infrastructure at the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, after the Jammu and Kashmir Government informed the Legislative Assembly that 13 out of 53 ventilators installed at the premier tertiary-care hospital were non-functional.
According to the government figures presented in the Assembly on February 18, 2026, SKIMS had a total of 53 ventilators, of which only 40 were functional, while the remaining 13 were reported as non-functional. This means nearly one-fourth of the installed ventilator capacity was unavailable at the time of the disclosure.
The revelation has raised concerns about the condition of life-support infrastructure at one of Kashmir’s major referral hospitals, which caters to critically ill patients from across the Valley and other parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
However, an important question remains unanswered: For how long have these 13 ventilators remained non-functional?
The publicly available government disclosure did not specify the individual dates on which the machines became non-functional, the duration of their breakdown, or whether they were awaiting repairs, spare parts or replacement.
Further developments also indicate that SKIMS initiated a procurement process for mid-end ventilators in June 2026. However, the procurement bid was subsequently cancelled through a notice issued on August 31, 2026. The reasons for cancellation and the subsequent status of the procurement process require further clarification from the institute.
The issue assumes significance as ventilators are among the most essential life-support machines in intensive care units, particularly for patients suffering from severe respiratory complications and other critical medical conditions.
While the government figures provide an indication of the available infrastructure at the time of the Assembly disclosure, the current operational status of all 53 ventilators remains to be officially established.
Questions also arise regarding the maintenance mechanism, repair expenditure, replacement policy and accountability for prolonged equipment downtime, if any.
The hospital authorities need to clarify the present status of the 13 non-functional machines, the period for which each has remained out of service, the reasons behind their breakdown and the steps taken to restore or replace them.
For patients and their attendants who depend on SKIMS for advanced medical care, the availability of functional life-support equipment is not merely an infrastructure issue but a matter of critical importance.
ANN News will continue to follow the issue and seek official clarification from SKIMS authorities regarding the exact duration of the breakdown, the present status of the ventilators and the steps being taken to strengthen critical-care facilities.
