J&K’s health budget records surge

Srinagar, Feb 28: A recent state-wise healthcare spending map circulating on popular data-mapping portals shows Jammu & Kashmir allocating just 4% of its total budget to the health sector, placing it among the lower spenders nationally. However, updated figures from PRS Legislative Research and official budget documents indicate a significantly higher allocation, with J&K’s health sector share rising sharply to 8.3% of the total budget — positioning it ahead of many states and Union Territories.

The widely shared map compares J&K unfavourably with higher-allocating states such as Rajasthan (7.5%), Andhra Pradesh (7%), and Kerala (6.8%), while placing it closer to Goa (4%) and Ladakh (3.5%). The national average allocation for health stands at around 5–6%. However, the visualisation appears to rely on older data and does not capture the substantial increase in J&K’s recent health budgets.

Official records show steady growth in health allocations over the past few years. Actual health expenditure stood at Rs 4,085 crore in 2023–24, accounting for 4.9% of the total budget. This increased to a budget estimate of Rs 8,333 crore in 2024–25 (later revised to Rs 7,685 crore), and further rose to Rs 8,814 crore in 2025–26 — representing 8.3% of the total budget and marking a 15% increase over the previous year’s estimates. For 2026–27, Rs 8,654 crore has been allocated for health and medical education. The allocation significantly exceeds the National Health Policy target of 2.5% of GDP.

Over the past decade, sustained prioritisation of the health sector — supported by centrally sponsored schemes — has translated into measurable improvements in health indicators. The AB-PMJAY-SEHAT scheme, which provides universal health coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family in J&K, continues to receive dedicated funding. As a result, out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) has dropped sharply from 46.6% to 25.9%, among the lowest in the country. Nearly 90 lakh Ayushman Golden Cards have been issued in the Union Territory, with an estimated Rs 3,435 crore incurred in treatment costs under the scheme.

Health outcomes reflect the impact of sustained investments. Life expectancy at birth in J&K stands at 74.3 years — the third highest in the country. The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has declined to 14–16.3 per 1,000 live births, while the Neonatal Mortality Rate stands at 9.8–10 per 1,000 live births, placing J&K among the few regions to approach single-digit levels. The Under-5 Mortality Rate has fallen to 18.5, ranking among the better-performing states nationally. Institutional deliveries account for 92.4–99.7% of all births, reflecting improved access to maternal healthcare services.

Taken together, the latest budget figures and health indicators suggest that Jammu & Kashmir’s sustained investment in healthcare is yielding tangible results, even as outdated data visualizations continue to circulate online.