JAMMU: The Jammu & Kashmir Government informed the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday that J&K has a health institution for every 3,500 souls, compared to the national average of 6,000 souls.

In a written reply to an unstarred question by MLA Reyaz Ahmed Khan, as reported by the  Minister in-charge of Health & Medical Education, Sakeena Masood Itto, informed the House that according to a report published by the Union Ministry of Health & Medical Education, J&K has a health institution for every 3,500 souls, significantly better than the national average of 6,000 souls.

The Minister also informed the House that there are currently 554 New Type Primary Health Centers (NTPHCs) in Jammu and Kashmir. She added that 523 out of these 554 NTPHCs have been converted into Health & Wellness Centers under a flagship scheme launched by the Government of India.

The Minister stated that no future creation or upgradation of health centers is planned at the moment.

However, this might be reconsidered once the austerity measures imposed by the Finance Department are withdrawn, and any critical gaps as per the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) are assessed.