Srinagar, Aug 02: Union Minister of State for Home, Nityanand Rai on Wednesday informed the Rajya Sabha that J&K has introduced the ‘SEHAT’ universal health insurance scheme, offering a health cover of Rs. 5 lakh to every household in the Union territory, with 82.22 lakh beneficiaries registered under the scheme, aiming to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure for 100% families.
“J&K has launched a universal health insurance scheme under the name ‘SEHAT’ in which every household in the Union territory has been provided with a health cover Rs. 5 lakh. 82.22 lakh beneficiaries have been registered so far under the scheme. Coverage to 100% families/beneficiaries in J&K to reduce out of pocket expenditure,” he said in a written reply to a question, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
“Digital interventions such as Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, Ambulatory services, e-sanjeevani, Tele-Radiology, Telemedicine, Tele-X-Ray, Tele-CT, Scan and Share, Chatbox and Tele-Manas,” he said.
“Health care delivery is being enhanced by way of expanding medical education and setting up of new institutions i.e. 2 new AIIMS, 07 new medical colleges, 02 cancer institutes and 15 nursing colleges. Out of these, 5 new medical colleges, 11 nursing colleges and 2 cancer institutes operationalized. AIIMS Jammu and AIIMS Kashmir are in progress. Intake capacity of MBBS has increased from 500 to 1,100 over a period of 08 years in Government medical colleges of the UT,” he said.
“PG seats have been increased from 513 to 637 and that of PG dental from 24 to 48. 282 DNB seats have been added and B.Sc Nursing seats enhanced to 610 and 590 B.Sc. Paramedical seats added,” the Union Ministry said.
About improvement in public service delivery and health indicators, he said that neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) reached a single digit of 9.8 recording a 13.3 points decrease. “Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) dipped down to 16.3 with a decrease of 16 points,” he said.
“UT has achieved the global target of reducing Under-5 mortality rate and 100% immunization for children in the age group of 9-11 months. Institutional deliveries increased to 97% (as per HMIS,” he added—(KNO)
