India on world health day 2025: Transforming healthcare with Ayushman Bharat, maternal care, and disease control

World Health Day, observed annually on April 7th, emphasizes critical global health issues and mobilizes action to improve public health outcomes. The 2025 theme, "Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures," focuses on maternal and new-born health, urging countries to eliminate preventable deaths and prioritize women's long-term well-being.

The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has dropped from 130 per 100,000 live births in 2014-16 to 97 in 2018-20, marking a significant reduction. The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has decreased from 39 to 28 per 1,000 live births, while the Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) has declined from 26 to 20 per 1,000 live births. Additionally, the Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) has fallen from 45 to 32 per 1,000 live births.

The Maternal Death Surveillance and Response (MDSR) system, which identifies the causes of maternal deaths and recommends corrective actions. The Mother and Child Protection (MCP) Card educates pregnant women about nutrition, signs of pregnancy complications, and the benefits of institutional deliveries. Programs such as Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) aim to reduce anaemia among pregnant women, while Birth Waiting Homes (BWH) in remote areas ensure access to institutional deliveries.

As of April 2025, India has over 1.76 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Health & Wellness Centres), which provide comprehensive primary healthcare services to rural and underserved populations. These centers have conducted over 107.1 crore screenings for hypertension and 94.56 crore screenings for diabetes, helping in early detection and management of non-communicable diseases. Additionally, wellness activities such as yoga, cycling, and meditation are promoted at these centers. The government has also certified over 17,000 health facilities under the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) to ensure continuous quality improvement and patient-centric care.

The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) is a key initiative aimed at integrating digital technology to enhance healthcare access and service delivery across India. As of April 2025, over 76 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA) have been created, and more than 5.95 lakh healthcare professionals and 3.86 lakh health facilities are registered under the ABDM. The digital platform has linked over 52 crore health records, enabling better coordination and access to health services. The U-WIN platform tracks immunizations for pregnant women and children, while e-Sanjeevani has served over 36 crore patients through teleconsultations.

India has made substantial progress in the elimination and control of various diseases. According to the WHO World Malaria Report 2024, India has reduced malaria cases by 69% and deaths by 68% between 2017 and 2023. In 2024, India successfully eliminated Trachoma as a public health problem, and through aggressive vaccination drives, it has significantly reduced measles and rubella cases. The country has also made progress in Tuberculosis (TB) control, with a 17.7% reduction in TB incidence between 2015 and 2023. India’s efforts in Kala-azar elimination have also been successful, with 100% of endemic blocks meeting the target of fewer than one case per 10,000 population by the end of 2023.

India has strengthened its mental health infrastructure through initiatives like Tele-MANAS, which operates across 36 states/UTs, offering 24x7 mental health support in 20 languages. As of April 2025, over 20 lakh calls have been handled through this program. Additionally, over 440 Rehabilitation Homes and Halfway Homes have been established to support mental health recovery. The government has allocated ₹230 crore for the National Tele-Mental Health Programme (NTMHP) over the past three years.