Jammu, Feb 03 (KINS): The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Tuesday informed the Legislative Assembly that the Union Territory is among the top performers in the country in terms of health institution density.
Replying to a query raised by MLA Mir Saifullah regarding the upgradation of health units, the Minister In-charge Health and Medical Education Department as per news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) in a written reply said that at present, the UT has around 4,000 consolidated health facilities functioning at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels.
The minister said that Jammu and Kashmir figures among the leading regions in health infrastructure density.
Citing a report published by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India, the department stated that the national average stands at one health institution for every 3,500 population, while in Jammu and Kashmir the ratio is one institution for around 6,000 people, placing the UT among the top runners in institutional coverage.
The government further informed the House that to fill critical gaps in healthcare delivery, the department aims to strengthen existing facilities by improving public health delivery systems, enhancing manpower, extending Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), and expanding digital health initiatives such as e-medicine and e-radiology hubs. The deployment of well-designed Mobile Medical Units is also part of the strategy to reach people seeking medical attention, particularly in remote areas.
Referring to the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) Norms–2022, the department clarified that districts with a population of less than 5 lakh do not require a Sub-District Hospital (SDH), while districts with a population between 5 to 10 lakh are entitled to one SDH. It added that districts with a population up to 20 lakh can have one District Hospital and one SDH or two to three SDHs, which are considered adequate to deliver comprehensive primary health services.(KINS)
