Army Mega Medical Speciality Camp at Basantgarh in Udhampur draws about 1,000 patients on its first day

18 October 2026

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, inaugurated the Army Mega Medical Speciality Camp at Basantgarh in Udhampur on 18 October 2026.
The camp was organised with the support of the Army under Northern Command and the civil administration, for residents of Basantgarh and adjoining remote areas.
Around 1,000 patients were examined on the first day, and another 1,000 to 1,500 were expected on the second, taking the projected total for the two-day camp to approximately 2,000 to 2,500 patients.
The Minister said nearly 50 per cent of the cases were related to ophthalmology, with cataract accounting for a substantial proportion of these cases, and that timely cataract treatment can prevent avoidable blindness.
He proposed preparing a feedback report to identify commonly occurring and preventable disorders, and exploring weekly rotational visits by doctors until regular appointments are made.
He asked the Deputy Commissioner and the Chief Medical Officer to examine the arrangement and establish a patient register to document cases, track medical requirements and facilitate referrals.