Life expectancy increases by 5 years in the past decade

Government increases health sector allocation by 335% to Rs 3 lakh crore in 12th Plan


The health indicators across the country have shown significant improvements. The life
expectancy has increased by 5 years in the past decade. What used to be 62.3 years for male and 63.9
years for female in 2001-2005 is now 67.3 years for male and69.6 years for female in 2011-2015.
There has been reduction in new HIV cases by as much as 57%. Infant Mortality Rate has come
down to 42 in 2012 from 58 per 1000 live births in the year 2005. Maternal Mortality Ratio has
declined from 301 per 100,000 live births in 2001-03 to 212 in 2007-09. The pace of decline has
shown an increasing trend from 4.1% annual rate of decline during 2001-03 to 5.5% in 2004-06 and
further to 5.8% in 2007-09. Total Fertility Rate has come down to 2.4 in 2011 from 2.9 in 2005.
Adding a new feather in the cap is declaration of India as Polio Free Nation. On the 13th January,
2014, India made history by completing three years without a single case of wild polio. This feat was
unimaginable till 2009, when India accounted for more than half of the global polio burden.

The appreciable developments in the healthcare sector are attributable to the strengthening of the
health infrastructure in the country, and a focused approach by the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare. The Government has increased budget outlay by 335% to Rs 3 lakh crore in 12th Plan for
healthcare to achieve universal and inclusive healthcare for all citizens. Moreover, under the National
Health Mission (NHM) there are two subcomponents namely National Rural Health Mission
(NRHM) and National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) which aim to provide accessible, affordable
and quality health care to the rural as well as urban population.

The National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) as a sub-mission of National Health Mission (NHM)
was approved by the Cabinet on 1st May, 2013. It envisages to meet health care needs of the urban
population with the focus on urban poor, by making available to them essential primary health care
services and reducing their out of pocket expenses for treatment. In the 12th Plan an allocation of Rs.
15,143 crores has been made for National Urban Health Mission.

NRHM was launched by the Government over eight years ago and substantial progress has been
achieved under it. More than Rs. 1, 11, 000 crores has been released by the Health Ministry to 35
State Governments and UTs. Nearly 51,000 new health infrastructures have been created, including
new construction and up-gradation works to improve health facilities. More than 70,000 beds have
been added in Government health institutions for provision of essential and emergency services
across the country. Addition of nearly 1.6 lakh human resources that include specialists, doctors,
nurses, ANMs and para-medics and nearly 9 lakh community health workers called ASHAs have
been appointed in villages to facilitate interface between the communities and health system.

Under NRHM National Ambulance Services, support free ambulance services to provide patients
transport in every nook and corner of the country connected with a toll free number to a Call Centre.
Over 15,000 basic and emergency patient transport vehicles have been provided under NRHM.
Besides these, over 3,000 vehicles have been empanelled to transport patients, particularly pregnant
women and sick infants from home to public health facilities and back. To increase visibility and
awareness- 102 & 108 ambulances are being repositioned as National Ambulance Service with
universal colour and design.

NRHM also provides for institutional delivery among the poor pregnant women under the Janani
Suraksha Yojna (JSY). Substantial increase in institutional deliveries has resulted in the steep decline
of the IMR and MMR. The scheme is operationalized in all the States with more than 12 million
beneficiaries.

The Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), launched in June 2011, entitles all new-borns and
children under one year of age besides pregnant women to absolutely free and no expense services
including free diagnostics, drugs, consumables, food and blood, if required, besides free transport
from home to institution, between facilities in case of a referral and drop back home. Nearly 1 crore
23 lakh pregnant women and more than 12 lakh children have benefitted in 2012-13.

Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) was launched in February, 2013. It entitles children in
the age group of zero to eighteen years across the country to receive free health screening services
and free treatment including surgeries, where required. An estimated 27 crore children are to be
covered across the country eventually, with screening for 30 common health conditions for early
detection of: Defects, Diseases, Deficiencies and Developmental disorders. More than 1 crore 86
lakh children screened; more than 7 lakhs 64 thousand children referred; more than 90 thousand
children have availed free secondary or tertiary health care

The Government has implemented Home Based Newborn Care up to 42 days of life through ASHAs,
Newborn care corners (NBCC) at delivery points and training of health care providers in Navjaat
Shishu Suraksha Karyakram(NSSK) for effective essential newborn care is a key component of the
newborn continuum of care have been established. And Special New Born Care Units (SNCUs) at
FRUs/DH and Newborn Stabilisation Units (NBSUs) have been established to provide care to sick,
low birth weight and preterm newborns.

For management of children with Severe Acute Malnutrition, 872 Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres
have been operationalized in the country till December 2013. Training Package for Facility Based
Management of Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition has been shared with the States in 2013.

The Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK), launched recently, aims to bring in several new
dimensions like- mental health, nutrition, substance misuse, gender based violence and non-
communicable diseases. The programme introduces community based interventions through peer
educators. The strategic approach to RMNCH+A (Reproductive, Maternal, New born, Child Health +
Adolescent) in which `A` denotes adolescents

To meet the challenge of high prevalence and incidence of anaemia amongst adolescent girls and
boys, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the Weekly Iron and Folic Acid
Supplementation (WIFS) Programme for 10-19 years adolescent population. Also the National Iron +
Initiative was launched for prevention and treatment of Iron Deficiency Anaemia among different
age groups. Under National Iron + Initiative initiative it is envisaged to ensure provision of IFA
supplementation and therapeutic management of mild, moderate and severe anaemia in the most
vulnerable groups children (6months- 10 years), adolescents (10-19 years), pregnant and lactating
women and women of reproductive age group (15-45 years) through a continuum of care approach.

The National Programme for the Health Care of Elderly (NPHCE) addresses health related problems
of elderly people. The basic aim of the NPHCE programme is to provide separate, specialized and
comprehensive health care to the senior citizens at various levels of state health care delivery system
including outreach services.

Government of India initiated an integrated National Programme for Prevention and Control of
Cancers, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS).

The Government has launched some of new vaccines like indigenously developed JE Vaccine
(JENVAC) in 2013. Also, Hepatitis B vaccine and second dose of measles vaccine are now part of
the Universal Immunization Programme. Pentavalent, a combination vaccine, which includes DPT +
Hep-B + Hib has been introduced in eight states: Kerala, Tamil Nadu in December 2011 and
Puducherry, Goa, Haryana, Gujarat, Karnataka and J & K in 2012-13. This ensures complete
immunization against five diseases and also reduces the chances of an adverse event following
immunization due to less injection load. Government of India earlier provided only one JE dose and
now has introduced two doses of JE vaccine under Routine Immunization with first dose at 9-12
months and 2nd dose at 16-24 months with effect from 1st April 2013.

The Government has also launched Reverse Dot Blot Hybridization (RDB) Thalassemia Diagnostic
Kit and AV Magni-Visualiser the screening device for cervical cancer in December, 2013 and
indigenously developed Diabetes Screening System and Test Strips in January 2014.

Efforts have been made to increase the number of doctors the Government rationalized the land use
norms for setting up New Medical Colleges, bed occupancy norms, retirement age of faculty, and
teacher student ratio was relaxed from 1:1 to 1:2 generally and 1:3 in some specific cases for post-
graduate courses. The availability of MBBS seats has gone up from 33,567 to 51,979, i.e. an increase
of 18,412 seats or almost 55%. During the same period, the number of PG seats has increased from
13,838 to 23,931 i.e. an increase of 10,093 seats or almost 73%. Within this period, 97 new medical
colleges, including six new AIIMS, have been established raising the number of Medical Colleges
from 290 to 387, which is all time high. Similarly, 19 Government Medical Colleges have been up-
graded as super speciality hospitals. Together the 6 new AIIMS, and 19 up-graded institutions would
provide speciality and super-speciality care in all disciplines with a net addition of 11,390 beds
covering 27 locations spread across the country.