WAJAHAT SHABIR
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has recorded a significant turnaround in key maternal and child health indicators, reflecting sustained improvements in healthcare delivery across the Union Territory. Neonatal and infant mortality rates have dropped to record lows, the sex ratio at birth has shown a marked improvement, and near-universal institutional deliveries and full immunisation coverage underscore strengthened public health interventions.
As per the Economic Survey Report, Significant progress has been made in improvement of health indicators over the years. Jammu and Kashmir has moved forward from the category of “Performers” to the category of “Front-Runners” as per the SDG India Index 2023-24 released by NITI Aayog as the score of Health Sector increased from 70 to 78.
The Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) has reached to single digit of 9.8 per 1000 live births recording 13.3 points decrease, Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has dipped down to 16.3 with decrease of 16.1 points, Sex Ratio at birth recorded significant improvement from 923 to 976. Percentage of fully immunized children against vaccine preventable diseases has increased to 100%. Institutional births have increased from 85.6% to 99.70%. Life Expectancy at Birth in J&K has reached 74.3 years, which is the highest in the country after Kerala and Delhi, while the national average is 70 years (SRS).
Government has launched AB-PMJAY – SEHAT” SCHEME to provide for universal health insurance coverage. Since inception 100% families registered and 87.64 lakh Ayushman Golden card have been issued. The scheme has been widely appreciated as being a unique initiative for universal health insurance coverage. This initiative has facilitated treatments worth Rs. 3,435 crore, benefiting 18.87 lakh individuals since its inception.
489 ambulances have been geo-tagged and integrated with online 108/ 102 ambulatory services. These efforts have enabled quick response times (average response time less than half an hour) and served more than 5.26 lakh beneficiaries since August 2020.
Over the last four years, the J&K has significantly expanded its healthcare workforce. Presently, the workforce consists of 10,771 doctors and paramedical staff hired under the National Health Mission, alongside approximately 33,000 regular positions filled up in Health & Medical Education.
The healthcare infrastructure has been substantially enhanced. Infrastructural upgradation & consolidation of health institutions include Two AIIMS, Two State Cancer Institutes, Two Bone and Joint Hospitals which has brought significant milestones in the field of healthcare. 3168 health and wellness centres have been operationalised by upgrading existing PHCs, SCs, Ayush Dispensaries for improving public health services. Bed capacity has been increased to about 22,454 beds.
There has been an unprecedented expansion in medical education with establishment of new Medical Colleges. 10 Government Medical Colleges (including 07 offering MBBS, One Unani, One Ayurvedic & One Homeopathic courses) have been started. The capacity of MBBS seats has increased from 500 to 1725. More than 6300 seats have been added in MBBS, DNB, Post-Graduation, and Nursing Education since 2019.
“Digital is the way forward” and as such the focus of the department is to leverage the digital platforms like Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABM), Hospital Management Information System, (IHMS), Tele-MANAS, e-Sanjeevani and Mera Asptaal to provide quality health care by utilising services of the experts available on the Digital networks. SEHAT APP has been launched to bring health care services and patients under one digital platform. 15 lakh users have been registered so far with thousands of them availing various services.
