SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has shown steady progress in India’s public health system, recording improvements in child health, gender equity, healthcare infrastructure, and regulatory enforcement. The Annual Report 2024–25 released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare presents a picture of a Union Territory moving forward in healthcare development.
The report states that Jammu and Kashmir has achieved the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target for the Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR), well ahead of the 2030 deadline.
With a U5MR of 17 per 1,000 live births, Jammu and Kashmir is among a few regions in the country to reach this milestone early. The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has also declined to 17, while the Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) stands at 12 and the Early Neonatal Mortality Rate (ENMR) at 8 — reflecting improvements in maternal and child healthcare services across the Union Territory.
These results are attributed to interventions under schemes such as the National Health Mission, which has supported the establishment of Special Newborn Care Units, District Early Intervention Centres, and Mother and Child Health Wings. Programmes like eSanjeevani telemedicine services, Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, and health screening initiatives have extended services to remote areas in both the valley and the Jammu region.
Progress in gender equity has also been recorded. As per Sample Registration System (SRS) data from 2018–20, the sex ratio at birth in Jammu and Kashmir has risen to 921 females per 1,000 males, up from 918 in 2017–19. Though modest, this trend indicates a gradual shift in both societal and healthcare-related attitudes towards the girl child.
This improvement is supported by the enforcement of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC&PNDT) Act, 1994, which aims to prevent sex-selective practices. As of June 2024, 841 diagnostic centres are registered across the UT. Only one court case is ongoing, and five machines have been seized or sealed — a low violation rate that suggests better monitoring and compliance. Jammu and Kashmir is also among 22 States and Union Territories that have adopted online platforms for clinic registration and record-keeping under the Act, contributing to improved transparency.
Infrastructure development also forms a key part of the region’s progress. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) under construction in Vijaypur, Jammu, is being developed at a cost of Rs 1,856 crore. It will include 750 beds, a 100-seat MBBS programme, and a 60-seat nursing programme. A new nursing college has also been sanctioned under the Centre’s initiative to establish 157 such institutions alongside existing medical colleges. The foundation stone for this institution in Jammu and Kashmir has already been laid.
The digital health ecosystem in the UT continues to grow. Through the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), residents are now part of a unified, technology-enabled healthcare platform — ranging from outpatient registrations and patient feedback through Mera Aspataal to mother and child tracking via the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Portal.
As Jammu and Kashmir continues along this path, it represents a model of health sector improvement based on infrastructure investment, digital integration, and enforcement of policy — while ensuring inclusive access to healthcare across regions. (KNO)
