New Delhi: Over the past three decades, India’s infant mortality rate has decreased by 75per cent, far outpacing global figures, while tuberculosis incidence has dropped by 17 per cent, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Sharing the mid-term achievements of the National Health Mission (NHM), which has been extended until 2026, the Health Ministry stated, “India has demonstrated a significant 75 per cent decline in the Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR), surpassing the global reduction of 60 per cent since 1990. Additionally, the incidence of tuberculosis has dropped from 237 per 1,00,000 population in 2015 to 195 in 2023, and the TB mortality rate has decreased from 28 to 22 during the same period.”
According to the ministry, “A key achievement of the NHM has been the substantial increase in human resources within the healthcare sector. In FY 2021-22, the NHM facilitated the engagement of 2.69 lakh additional healthcare workers, including General Duty Medical Officers (GDMOs), specialists, staff nurses, ANMs, AYUSH doctors, allied healthcare workers, and public health managers.”
Providing detailed statistics, the ministry highlighted that the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) decreased by 25 per cent, from 130 per lakh live births in 2014-16 to 97 per lakh in 2018-20, reflecting an 83 per cent decline since 1990—well above the global reduction of 45 per cent. Furthermore, the U5MR decreased by 75 per cent, from 45 per 1,000 live births in 2014 to 32 in 2020, showing a stark 15-percentage-point difference compared to the global reduction of 60per cent since 1990.
The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) also dropped from 2.3 in 2015 to 2.0 in 2020, as per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5). These improvements indicate that India is on track to achieve its Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets for maternal, child, and infant mortality ahead of 2030.
Under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), tuberculosis incidence has decreased from 237 per 1,00,000 population in 2015 to 195 in 2023, while the TB mortality rate dropped from 28 to 22 during the same period.
In terms of malaria, the number of deaths decreased by 13.28per cent and 7.77per cent in 2021 and 2022, respectively, compared to the preceding year. However, in 2023, malaria surveillance and cases increased by 8.34 per cent and 28.91 per cent, respectively, compared to 2022.
Specialized health initiatives under the NHM have also seen expansion. The Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme (PMNDP) provided over 62.35 lakh hemodialysis sessions in FY 2023-24, benefiting more than 4.53 lakh dialysis patients.
Additionally, the National Sickle Cell Anemia Elimination Mission, launched in 2023, has screened over 2.61 crore individuals in tribal areas, aiming to eliminate sickle cell disease by 2047.
The NHM has focused on strengthening healthcare infrastructure, with 7,998 public health facilities certified under the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) as of March 2024. Over 4,200 of these facilities have received national certification. Furthermore, the number of operational Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM) centers increased to 1,72,148 by the end of FY 2023-24, with 1,34,650 centers offering 12 key healthcare services.
The Cabinet’s approval for the NHM framework includes provisions for regular progress reports, which must include details of financial deviations, modifications to ongoing schemes, and the introduction of new programs.
The National Rural Health Mission, launched in 2005, aimed to build public health systems that provide accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare to rural populations, especially vulnerable groups, up to the district hospital level.
Initially extended from 2017 to 2020, the NHM received two additional extensions from the Union Finance Ministry. As per the latest directive, the NHM is extended from 2021 to 2026 or until further review, subject to adherence to Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) recommendations and financial ceilings.
