Jammu and Kashmir has emerged as one of the leading contenders for achieving success at par in public health transformation, making notable progress in child health, gender equity, infrastructure, and regulatory enforcement.
The recently released annual report 2024-25 of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare paints a promising picture of a region steadily climbing the ladder of healthcare development.
At the forefront is the UT’s achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target for under-5 mortality Rate (U5MR), years ahead of the 2030 deadline, the report further reveals.
With a U5MR of 17 per 1,000 live births, Jammu and Kashmir is among the few regions in the country to meet this milestone early.
The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has dropped to 17, while the Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) stands at 12 and the Early Neonatal Mortality Rate (ENMR) at 8 — all pointing to improved maternal and child healthcare services across the UT.
These health outcomes are proactive interventions under schemes like the National Health Mission, which has enabled the establishment of special new-born care units, district early intervention centres, and mother and child health wings.
The rollout of e-Sanjeevani telemedicine, Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, and health screening programs has extended healthcare reach into remote corners of the valley and the Jammu region.
Gender equity in birth outcomes also saw improvement. As per Sample Registration System (SRS) data from 2018–2020, Jammu and Kashmir’s sex ratio at birth has increased to 921 females per 1,000 males, up from 918 during 2017–19.
J&K is also among the 22 States/UTS that have adopted online platforms for clinic registration and record-keeping under the Act, ensuring greater transparency.
Infrastructure development adds another strong pillar to the story. The under-construction AIIMS in Vijaypur (Jammu) is being developed at a cost of ₹1856 crore and will house 750 beds along with a 100-seat MBBS program and a 60-seat nursing program.
Additionally, a new nursing college has been sanctioned under the Centre’s initiative to set up 157 such colleges co-located with medical colleges.
The foundation stone for this institution in J&K has already been laid, strengthening the pipeline of trained healthcare professionals.
As UT is progressing on the upward trajectory, it offers a compelling model that could be extended to other states and UTs struggling to achieve a balance in proper healthcare management.
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