Srinagar, Nov 22: The National Health Mission (NHM) in Jammu & Kashmir has ordered an audit of neonatal health services after new data revealed unusually high referral and “left against medical advice” (LAMA) rates across district-level Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) and Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs).

In a communication (No. SHS/NHM/J&K/CH/14440, dated November 20, 2025), the Mission Director’s office said that an ongoing assessment of SNCU and NICU performance for the 2025-26 financial year has found multiple facilities referring between 29% and 36% of admitted newborns to higher centres.

Officials said such levels are overburdening tertiary-care hospitals and increasing the risk of in-transit complications and avoidable delays.

“As per the analysis of SNCU and NICU perform

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