- Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR): India has met the National Health Policy (NHP) target of 100 deaths per 1 lakh live births.
- MMR Decline (1990-2020): 83% drop in India, higher than the global decline.
- Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): 69% reduction in India vs. 55% global decline.
- Under-5 Mortality Rate: 75% decline in India, outpacing the global 58% drop.
Relevance : GS 2(Health )
Government Strategy & Policy Directions
- Mission Steering Group Meeting: Chaired by Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda under National Health Mission (NHM).
- Implementation Focus: Need for effective execution of healthcare schemes at the grassroots level.
- Strengthening CMOs: Enhancing the capacities of Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) through training and capacity-building.
- ASHA Workers’ Role: Emphasis on their empowerment, revised incentives, and honorariums.
Technological & Infrastructure Developments
- New Initiatives: Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita and Maitri (BHISHM) introduced.
- Quality Assurance: Ensuring efficiency and effectiveness of new health technologies and schemes.
Significance
- Reflects India’s progress in maternal and child healthcare.
- Strengthening health infrastructure and workforce to sustain improvements.
- Highlights need for continued investment in training, technology, and incentives for healthcare workers.
