SRINAGAR: Health infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir received a significant boost as projects worth Rs 512 crore have been allotted to HSCC (India) Ltd under the National Health Mission (NHM), with more than 200 works awarded and 150 already initiated across various districts in the Union Territory.
The update came during a high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, who assessed the ongoing NHM projects and overall progress in the health sector. Senior officials from the Health and Medical Education Department, Mission Director NHM, Principals of Government Medical Colleges, and other stakeholders attended the meeting.
Emphasising the importance of timely and quality execution, Dulloo directed concerned departments to expedite ongoing infrastructure development, including Critical Care Blocks (CCBs), Integrated Public Health Labs (IPHLs), and Block Public Health Units (BPHUs) under the PM-ABHIM initiative. The programme, officials informed, is already showing positive outcomes, with 10 CCBs, 20 IPHLs, and 287 BPHUs being raised across the UT.
Addressing the need for consistent drug availability, the Chief Secretary instructed that weekly consolidated reports on essential medicines be submitted from each district and made accessible in real time to Deputy Commissioners and health authorities.
He also reviewed telemedicine services like e-Sanjeevani and Tele-MANAS, along with ambulance coverage, and urged the Health Department to raise public awareness to maximise outreach. The tele-consultation service has already benefitted over 9.35 lakh patients, and more than 1 lakh calls have been received on the Tele-MANAS helpline based at IMHANS.
Highlighting gaps in medical staffing, Dulloo directed urgent steps to fill DNB (Diplomate of National Board) seats and ensure no Primary Health Centre or Sub-Centre, especially in remote areas, operates without doctors or paramedical staff.
Special focus was laid on the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), under which 91 per cent of children aged 0-18 were screened in 2024-25 at schools and Anganwadi Centres.
Secretary Health and Medical Education, Dr Syed Abid Rashid Shah, reported a robust funding pattern this fiscal year, with Rs 806.93 crore of central share received and Rs 195.08 crore allotted for infrastructure maintenance—higher than the allocated resource envelope.
Jammu and Kashmir’s health indicators also showed improvement, with institutional deliveries touching 99 per cent and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) dropping from 16 to 14 per 1,000 live births, better than the national average.
NHM Director Dr Baseer-ul-Haq Chaudhary noted expanded access to free drugs—rising from 23 to 96 at SHC-Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and 71 to 175 at PHC level—and over 242 lakh OPD consultations conducted since 2023. He also shared that 90 per cent of ASHAs in the region have successfully qualified for NIOS certification, the highest rate in the country.
The meeting concluded with a strong emphasis on timely completion of health infrastructure projects, data-driven decision-making, and enhanced public outreach to ensure inclusive and equitable healthcare access across the Union Territory.
