Disparities in Healthcare Facilities: A District-Level Study of Jammu and Kashmir

Abstract

Jammu and Kashmir are seeing inter-district discrepancies in health infrastructure. Some districts in Jammu and Kashmir have superior health facilities compared to others. It is essential to analyze the distribution of health facilities such as district hospitals, health centers, medical beds, doctors, and nurses in Jammu and Kashmir to identify disparities and provide solutions. The current study aims to investigate the differences in health infrastructure among districts in Jammu and Kashmir. Nine indicators of health infrastructure are chosen for analysis, together with their coefficient of variation ratios and deprivation and development indicators. Initially, statistical analysis of the coefficient of variation reveals disparities in the distribution of health facilities across different districts of Jammu and Kashmir. Following medical staff and other facilities, the discrepancies are most noticeable in the number of doctors in medical institutions. The data show that in many districts, the ratios of health infrastructure indicators such as doctors, nurses, beds, district hospitals, primary health centers, community health centers, and dispensaries to population are minimal, revealing substantial imbalances. The health infrastructure deprivation and development indexes highlight the disparities in health infrastructure development between districts. The impoverished districts lacking in health facilities are seeking urgent government intervention with a specific action plan.