Neonatal mortality rate

The Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar has strongly refuted the news item circulated by some media outlets suggesting an increase in the mortality rate at Lal Ded Hospital (LD Hospital) for the year 2024.

In an official statement issued here, it has been clarified that the neonatal mortality rate (NMR) at Government Lal Ded Hospital (LD Hospital) for the year 2024 stands at 9.9 per 1000, which is significantly lower than the national average, though neonatal mortality rate at LD cannot be used as an index of neonatal mortality in the society.

The GMC authorities further explained that the neonatal mortality rate has not risen but, in fact, has been effectively contained through advanced treatment methods. These improvements have ensured that the rate remains well below the national average, demonstrating the hospital’s success in providing high-quality care.

In 2024, LD Hospital attended to a total of 221,163 outpatients (OPD), with 37,908 inpatient (IPD) admissions with 29,939 live births. Further 3,107 neonatal IPD admissions were recorded. Out of these neonatal admissions, 297 deaths occurred, resulting in a neonatal mortality rate of 9.9 per 1000 which is below than the national neonatal mortality which at present is 17-21 per 1000 live births.

The millennium development goal is to reduce neonatal mortality rate to 12 per 1000 live births. This figure reflects a remarkable achievement in the face of challenges and is attributed to the advanced healthcare systems in place at the valley’s only tertiary maternity care hospital.