Jammu, April 26, 2026: Hon’ble Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor (CEC), Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, Dr. Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, attended the inaugural ceremony of the academic conference “Haematology Update, Jammu 2026” as the chief guest.
The event was organised by the Department of Paediatrics, SMGS Hospital, Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Mohd Jaffer Akhoon stressed that blood disorders such as Thalassemia, Haemophilia, and Leukaemia are not confined to urban centres alone, and that people in remote and far-flung areas of Ladakh, particularly Kargil, are equally affected and equally deserving of quality medical care. He emphasised that bridging the gap between specialised healthcare and geographically isolated communities is a moral and administrative responsibility that must be taken seriously at every level.
Dr. Akhoon further called upon the medical community and concerned authorities to devise concrete mechanisms for extending specialised haematological treatment and awareness to the people of Ladakh, so that no patient is left without timely diagnosis and care due to distance or lack of facilities.
The conference served as a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange on the diagnosis, management, and emerging innovations in both benign and malignant haematological disorders, including Anaemia, Thalassemia, Leukaemias, Haemophilia, and other bleeding disorders.
Dr. Ashutosh Gupta, Principal and Dean, Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu, was among the distinguished guests at the conference.
The conference witnessed the participation of eminent medical professionals and specialists from across the country, including Dr. V.P. Choudhary, former HOD Haematology, AIIMS New Delhi; Dr. Naresh Gupta, Chairperson Haemophilia and Health Collective of North India; Dr. Amita Trehan, Head of the Pediatric Hematology Oncology Division, GIMER Chandigarh; Dr. J.S. Arora, General Secretary, National Thalassemia Welfare Society; Dr. S.P. Yadav, HOD Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Medanta Medicity Gurugram; Dr. K.K. Koul, former HOD Pathology; Dr. Richa Jain; Dr. Shruti Kakkar, Professor Paediatrics, CMC Ludhiana; Dr. Deepika Gupta, Hematologist, Narayana Hospital Kakryal; Dr. Varun Koul; Dr. Sandesh Ganju; and Dr. Adrija Mishra, who shared valuable clinical insights and recent research updates on haematological conditions.
Professor Dr. K.B. Gupta, former HOD Paediatrics, GMC Jammu, was also honoured with a lifetime achievement award by the Indian Academy of Paediatrics, Jammu Branch, during the inaugural ceremony.
