Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences was conceived with the following objectives:

To provide facilities of specialized medical care and particularly develop super specialties that would provide tertiary health-care. To provide need oriented education in medical sciences and clinical research. To develop a referral linkage between the primary, secondary and tertiary health-care Institutions of the State to achieve an optimum health delivery system.

The State Government under the 5th and 6th plan grants earmarked for the Institute, as the Planning Commission approved of it as a plan project, provided the funds for construction and equipping the Institute. The construction commenced in the year 1976. The Institute was partially commissioned on 5th December 1982.

Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences is a Post Graduate Institute for training, research and patient care. With this objective, various committees appointed by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir identified the specialties in which postgraduate and post doctoral courses would be undertaken. By an Act of Legislature on 19th August 1983, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences was granted a Deemed University status.