diff --git a/backend/src/index.ts b/backend/src/index.ts
index af578ea..af5ae65 100644
--- a/backend/src/index.ts
+++ b/backend/src/index.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import extractRoutes from './routes/extract.js';
 import exportRoutes from './routes/export.js';
 import authRoutes from './routes/auth.js';
 import paymentRoutes from './routes/payment.js';
+import healthRoutes from './routes/health.js';
 
 dotenv.config();
 
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ app.use('/api/extract', extractRoutes);
 app.use('/api/export', exportRoutes);
 app.use('/api/auth', authRoutes);
 app.use('/api/payment', paymentRoutes);
+app.use('/api/health', healthRoutes);
 
 app.listen(PORT, () => {
   console.log(`Server is running on port ${PORT}`);
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/health.ts b/backend/src/routes/health.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fcffdc9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/src/routes/health.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+import { Router, Request, Response } from 'express';
+
+const router = Router();
+
+// Store server start time
+const startTime = Date.now();
+
+/**
+ * GET /api/health
+ * Health check endpoint for monitoring and setup verification
+ * Returns server status, uptime, and timestamp
+ */
+router.get('/', (req: Request, res: Response) => {
+  const now = new Date();
+  const uptimeSeconds = Math.floor((Date.now() - startTime) / 1000);
+  
+  res.status(200).json({
+    status: 'UP',
+    uptime: uptimeSeconds,
+    timestamp: now.toISOString(),
+  });
+});
+
+export default router;
\ No newline at end of file