‘J&K front-runner in health indicators as per national estimates’
Srinagar, Feb 5: Jammu and Kashmir has emerged as a “front-runner” in health-related development indicators, driven by sustained investments in healthcare infrastructure, manpower and digital health initiatives over the years, according to the Economic Survey 2025-26 released by the J&K Government on Thursday.
The survey highlights significant gains in key health parameters, placing the Union Territory among the leading performers under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) India Index.
For the first time, the Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) in J&K has declined to a single-digit figure of 9.8 per 1,000 live births. The report notes that neonatal mortality has been consistently declining over the past decade and dropped from 11 to below 10 in the last year alone. The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has also declined to 16.3.
The sex ratio at birth has shown marked improvement, rising from 923 to 976. The survey attributes this progress to the stringent implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, noting that the sex ratio has steadily improved over the years.
According to the report, 100 per cent of children in Jammu and Kashmir are now fully immunised against vaccine-preventable diseases under the national immunisation schedule. Institutional deliveries have also increased significantly, from 85.6 per cent to 99.7 per cent.
Life expectancy at birth in J&K has reached 74.3 years, placing it among the highest in the country. The survey said this is second only to Kerala and Delhi and is well above the national average of 70 years, as per the Sample Registration System (SRS) estimates.
The survey further stated that Jammu and Kashmir has moved from the category of “Performers” to “Front-Runners” in the SDG India Index 2023–24 released by NITI Aayog. The health sector score improved from 70 to 78, reflecting advancements in maternal and child health, disease control and access to institutional healthcare.
Under the AB-PMJAY SEHAT scheme, 100 per cent of families in J&K have been registered, the survey said. Till the compilation of the report, 87.64 lakh Ayushman Golden Cards had been issued. The scheme has facilitated treatments worth Rs 3,435 crore, benefiting 18.87 lakh individuals since its launch, it added.
Emergency medical services have also improved considerably. The UT currently has 489 ambulances that are geo-tagged and integrated with online 108 and 102 emergency services, reducing average response time to under 30 minutes. Since August 2020, these services have benefited more than 5.26 lakh patients, the survey noted.
The government has expanded the healthcare workforce over the past four years, engaging 10,771 doctors and paramedical staff under the National Health Mission, in addition to around 33,000 regular employees in the Health and Medical Education Department.
Healthcare infrastructure has also seen major expansion, with two AIIMS, two State Cancer Institutes and two Bone and Joint Hospitals established in Jammu and Kashmir. With ten Government Medical Colleges now operational, medical education has grown rapidly. MBBS seat capacity has increased from 500 to 1,725, while over 6,300 seats have been added across undergraduate, postgraduate, DNB and nursing courses since 2019, the survey said.
