Health - Connect Civils

Sol –

SDG goal 3 calls upon states to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. In line with this, India has implemented various initiatives aimed at ensuring quality and affordable healthcare accessible to all its citizens.

Major schemes –

Scheme	Scheme	Scheme
Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), World’s largest health assurance scheme. ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care. Now extended to all citizens aged 70 years and above (Budget 2024–25).	Janani Suraksha Yojana – To reduce maternal and neonatal mortality by promoting institutional delivery among poor pregnant women	Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana – partial wage compensation to women for wage loss during childbirth and childcare
Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN) – For Zero preventable maternal and newborn deaths	e-Sanjeevani OPD – National Telemedicine Service of India is a step towards digital health equity to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) eSanjeevani Telemedicine Platform: Over 31 crore consultations. Facilitates doctor-to-patient and doctor-to-doctor services, especially in rural areas.	Social Awareness and Actions to Neutralize Pneumonia Successfully (SAANS) – Launched in November 2019 to reduce childhood pneumonia deaths
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs: Over 1.75 lakh Health and Wellness Centres. Offer free diagnostics, medicines, maternal and child health services, and NCD screenings.	Maternity Benefits Act – 6 months paid maternity leave	Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana – To improve the health of women and children by providing them with clean cooking fuel, LPG, instead of smoky fuels or firewood
Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme – Strengthening of District Hospitals by providing affordable dialysis services	Ayushman Bharat – Health and Wellness Centres – Name changed to ‘Ayushman Arogya Mandir’ with the tagline ‘Arogyam Parmam Dhanam’ The creation of 1.5 Lakh Health & Wellness Centres	Jan Aushadhi Scheme: Promotes low-cost generic medicines through 14,000+ Jan Aushadhi Kendras.
POSHAN Abhiyaan – To reduce stunting, undernutrition, anemia (among young children, women, and adolescent girls), and low birth weight by 2%, 2%, 3%, and 2% per annum, respectively.	Anemia Mukt Bharat Strategy – To reduce anaemia among six beneficiary age groups – children (6-59 months), children (5-9 years), adolescents (10-19 years), pregnant and lactating women, and women of reproductive age (15-49 years)	COVID-19 Vaccination Programme – To include all persons aged 12 years and above, and for the precautionary dose for all persons aged 18 years and above
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission – The backbone necessary to support the integrated digital health infrastructure of the country	Ayushman Bharat – Health Infrastructure Mission – Launched in 2021 to strengthen critical health infrastructure. Focus on all levels, viz., primary, secondary, and tertiary, and on preparing health systems to respond effectively to the current and future pandemics/disasters.	Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021 –
National Health Policy 2017	Mental Healthcare Act 2017	National Strategic Plan for TB Elimination 2017
HIV and AIDS (Prevention & Control) Act 2017	Mission Indradhanush 2014	Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram 2014
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan 2014	Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan 2022 to end TB by 2025	National Tele Mental Health Programme (Tele MANAS)
National Deworming Day	Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP): Immunisation against 11 diseases Achieved 93.5% immunisation coverage in FY24.

Improvements in overall health –

Total fertility rate (children per woman) decreased from 2.2 (NFHS-4) to 2.0 (NFHS-5)
Health Insurance Coverage increased from 28.7% (NFHS-4) to 41.0% (NFHS-5)
Institutional births increased from 78.9% (NFHS-4) to 88.6% (NFHS-5)
Infant mortality rate decreased from 40.7% (NFHS-4) to 35.2% (NFHS-5)

Children under 5 years who are stunted (height-for-age) decreased from 38.4% (NFHS-4) to 35.5% (NFHS-5)
Children under 5 years who are wasted (weight-for-height) decreased from 21.0% (NFHS-4) to 19.3% (NFHS-5)
Government Health Expenditure (GHE) has risen to 48% of Total Health Expenditure, reducing dependence on out-of-pocket payments.
Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) dropped from 62.6% in FY15 to 39.4% in FY22, reflecting financial protection for citizens.
AI and tech integration (e.g., silicosis screening in Rajasthan, drone-based medicine delivery in NE India) enhanced last-mile care.

In conclusion, prioritizing quality healthcare is paramount for leveraging India’s demographic dividend and advancing the nation’s progress during the next 25 years of Amrit Kaal.

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