In a clear indication of achieving significant progress, Jammu and Kashmir has shown considerable improvement in public health parameters against the corresponding national average for the last few years.
According to the recently released state wise fact sheet by National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC) on the basis of National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) 75th round report, J&K has significantly improved its performance in outpatient care, in-patient care, child birth, Antenatal Care (ANC), Post Natal Care (PNC) by utilising its existing Public Health Facilities and Out Of Pocket Expenditure (OOPE).
As per the highlights of the report, all women in Jammu and Kashmir are availing Antenatal Care Services (ANC), out of which 80 to 92 per cent services are being provided by public health facilities, which is higher than the national average. The trend of availing Post Natal Care (PNC) has also increased from 81 to 99 per cent and there is significant increase in utilisation of public health facilities for availing PNC services from 60 to 97 percent since 2014.
Over 96 per cent Inpatient Department (IPD) care in rural areas of J&K is provided by public health facilities, which is highest against the country’s average of 85 percent.
In 2016, according to the data released by the Registrar General of India custodian of census data, Jammu and Kashmir has surpassed Kerala with the highest life expectancy in India for all ages, barring life expectancy at birth. Pointing towards good health seeking behaviour, J&K has emerged as one of the top performers in terms of the utilisation of the Public health facilities, as 80 per cent people avail OPD services from there, especially in rural areas, showing a 15 to 30 per cent increase in OPD cases in the last few years. “Home deliveries and private sector deliveries have significantly decreased since 2014 with only 10 to 15 percent taking place in private health facilities,” the report stated.
According to the report, the Out Of Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) per OPD patient in public and private facilities has significantly decreased in both rural and urban areas since 2014, besides the percentage of diagnostic and drug expenditure as a proportion of IPD medical expenditure has also decreased.
For tackling the issue of OOPE and fulfilling the commitment to make the healthcare services cashless in public health facilities, J&K government is implementing various interventions in mission mode, like streamlining the procurement of drugs and consumables, implementation of Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana through public and empanelled private hospitals for providing cashless IPD services to the golden card holders and operationalisation of health and wellness centres under Ayushman Bharat, free drug and diagnostic initiatives, Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram, Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram, Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program, Biomedical Equipment Management and Maintenance Program and National Pradhan Mantri Dialysis Programme.