Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 7: Jammu and Kashmir has made a considerable improvement in health sector over the years and has achieved better results on all fronts.
As per latest SRS data J&K is among first few States in the country so far as the ranking in Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Total Fertility Rate (TFR) and life expectancy at birth is concerned. The life expectancy in J&K is highest in the country above one year of age (SRS 2016).
As per recently released state wise fact sheets by National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC), New Delhi on the basis of National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) 75th round report, Healthcare Services in J&K have shown an impressive improvement against the corresponding national averages since last few years on various parameters like Outpatient Care, In-patient Care, Child Birth, Antenatal Care (ANC), Post Natal Care (PNC) in context of Utilization of Public Health Facilities and reducing Out Of Pocket Expenditure (OOPE).
As per the report the number of ailing persons per 1000 population in rural areas is lesser than national average and use of informal care by non-hospitalized cases is very low (<2%) in J&K. 80% people avail outpatient (OPD) services from Public Health Facilities especially in rural areas and there is 15-30% increase in OPD cases since last few years reflecting good health seeking behaviour.
Overall proportion of hospitalised persons (IPD) per 1000 patients has significantly decreased (10-15%) since 2014 and is less than national average in both rural and urban areas of J&K.
Home deliveries and private sector deliveries have significantly decreased since 2014.
Overall 97-100% women are availing Antenatal Care (ANC) services in J&K out of which 80-92% services are being provided by Public Health Facilities which is much higher than national average.
Percentage of women availing PNC services increased from 81-99% and there is significant increase in utilization of public health facilities for availing PNC services from 60-97% since 2014 in J&K.
However, as per data 75-80% of OOPE as a proportion is spent on drugs and consumables in both OPD and IPD cases in public health facilities, which is higher than national average.
In a handout, Bhupinder Kumar Mission Director National Health Mission and Chief Executive Officer State Health Agency Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana said that for tackling the issue of OOPE and fulfilling the commitment to make the healthcare services cashless in Public Health Facilities Government of J & K is implementing various interventions in mission mode like streamlining the procurement of drugs and consumables, implementation PM-JAY through public and empanelled private hospitals for providing cashless IPD services to golden card holders and operationalization of Health and Wellness Centres under Ayushman Bharat, Free Drug and Diagnostic Initiatives, Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP), Biomedical Equipment Management and Maintenance Program (BMEMMP) and National Pradhan Mantri Dialysis Program (PMNDP).
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