The trajectory of India‘s development in health and well-being from 1947 to 2023 showcases a remarkable evolution. The nation’s endeavours to tackle some of the deadliest diseases and enhance the quality of life for its citizens reflect a story of transformation and growth.
A triumph in death rate reduction
One of the most remarkable accomplishments India has achieved post-independence is the substantial reduction in death rate. In 1947, the average life expectancy for an Indian citizen was a mere 32 years. Fast forward to 2024, and this figure has risen significantly to an impressive 70.62 years, a 0.29% increase from 2023. This transformation, endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), underscores the progress in human development.
Infant mortality and child health:
A striking improvement
The United Nations’ data sheds light on India’s commendable strides in child health. The infant mortality rate, which stood at 145.6 per 1000 live births in 1947, has seen a remarkable improvement and dropped to 27.695 per 1000 live births in 2023. This splendid improvement underscores the nation’s commitment to ensuring a healthier start for its youngest citizens.
National initiatives and disease eradication
India’s post-independence journey has been punctuated by the initiation of numerous national-level campaigns aimed at combatting various diseases. From AIDS to tuberculosis and malaria, the Indian government has championed initiatives that have not only saved lives but also demonstrated the nation’s proactive approach to public health challenges.
Empowering health through national schemes
The launch of transformative schemes such as the National Health Mission and the National Rural Health Mission has bolstered India’s commitment to enhancing child and maternal health. These initiatives have played a pivotal role in ensuring accessible healthcare services and reducing health disparities across different regions of the country.
India’s progress in the field of medical education is another testament to its journey of transformation. There were mere 28 medical colleges in the 1950s but the current count of 612 medical colleges speaks volumes about the nation’s dedication to nurturing a skilled healthcare workforce. India’s evolution in the realm of health and development over the years serves as an inspiring example for developing nations across the globe.
Healthcare has become one of India’s largest sectors, both in terms of revenue and employment. Healthcare comprises hospitals, medical devices, clinical trials, outsourcing, telemedicine, medical tourism, health insurance and medical equipment. The Indian healthcare sector is growing at a brisk pace due to its strengthening coverage, services, and increasing expenditure by public as well as private players.
India’s healthcare delivery system is categorised into two major components – public and private. The government, i.e., the public healthcare system, comprises limited secondary and tertiary care institutions in key cities and focuses on providing basic healthcare facilities in the form of Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) in rural areas. The private sector provides the majority of secondary, tertiary, and quaternary care institutions with a major concentration in metros, tier-I, and tier-II cities.
India’s competitive advantage lies in its large pool of well-trained medical professionals. India is also cost-competitive compared to its peers in Asia and Western countries. The cost of surgery in India is about one-tenth of that in the US or Western Europe. The low cost of medical services has resulted in a rise in the country’s medical tourism, attracting patients from across the world. Moreover, India has emerged as a hub for R&D activities for international players due to its relatively low cost of clinical research.
n the past few decades, India’s healthcare sector has undergone significant transformations marked by advancements in infrastructure, technology, and accessibility. This journey towards enhancing public health has been propelled by focused efforts to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and a commitment to bolstering healthcare infrastructure. While commendable achievements have been made, challenges persist, including fragmentation across various dimensions of healthcare delivery. However, concerted efforts by the Government of India, supported by state governments and various stakeholders, have successfully addressed many of these challenges.
Strategic government-led initiatives like the National Health Policy, which aims to shape the country’s health systems through government interventions, the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), providing a sum insured of INR 5 lakh per family for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to 104 million beneficiary families, and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, aiming to develop an integrated and interoperable digital health infrastructure, have played a pivotal role in shaping the healthcare landscape. Digital healthcare initiatives such as CoWIN, e-Sanjeevani, Arogya Setu, e-Hospital, etc. have accelerated progress, enhancing healthcare accessibility and delivery.
These initiatives aim to build robust healthcare ecosystem and ensure healthcare reaches every doorstep. Additionally, regulatory reforms and supportive policies have boosted the pharmaceutical and medical technology sectors, driving economic growth and innovation. These efforts are enhanced by collaborations with the private sector, non-profits, healthcare startups, and international partners. They have been pivotal in expanding access to advanced medical services, fostering innovation in healthcare delivery, and promoting health equity nationwide. The fragmentation in health service financing has been substantially reducing over the years because of increased penetration of government health insurance scheme and other social security initiatives. The transition from the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) to PM-JAY has been particularly impactful, contributing to a significant reduction in out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) from 64.2% in 2013-14 to 47.1% in 2019-20. This improvement signifies enhanced affordability and accessibility of healthcare services for the population.
Key achievements
Improving health indicators: The remarkable progress and achievement of National Health Policy targets of key health indicators such as infant mortality, maternal mortality and neonatal mortality rates is a testament to India’s efforts in enhancing healthcare delivery and maternal and child health services. These improvements signify a brighter future for generations to come, with better health outcomes and reduced disparities.
Healthcare financing: India’s recognition of the importance of healthcare funding is evident from the upward trend of healthcare expenditure as a percentage of GDP, reaching 2.1% in 2022-23 from 1.2% in 2014-15. This trend signifies a positive step towards fulfilling the recommendation of the Fifteenth Finance Commission, which proposed that public health expenditure of Union and State Governments together should be increased in a progressive manner to reach 2.5% of the GDP by 2025.