The mandate of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) is to ensure that the health services reach the most vulnerable and the unserved populations. To fulfill this, the Ministry has taken up initiatives to ensure and expand Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

One of the significant steps has been the announcement of the National Health Policy 2017, to address the current and emerging challenges necessitated by the changing socio-economic and epidemiological landscapes of the country. While the Policy touches upon all components of healthcare in the country, it has brought focus to preventive and promotive health, primary health care and ensuring access, affordability and quality of health services. The other policy initiatives have been the Mental Healthcare Act 2017, HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act – 2017 and amendment of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 for a uniform entrance examination for admission to all medical seats in the country.

Other significant steps and initiatives by the  Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW):

• A landmark initiative to expand the universal health coverage across the country is – Ayushman Bharat. It has two components viz, Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) and National Health Protection Mission (NHPM).
• The NHPM is poised to be the largest public funded health insurance scheme in the world.
• The Health Ministry has been persistently working on ensuring accessibility, affordability and quality of health services with special focus on reducing the Out Of Pocket Expenditures (OOPE) of the beneficiary. Under the flagship programme National Health Mission (NHM) essential drugs and diagnostics are provided at all public facilities through the Free Drugs and Diagnostics program.
• Through 124 Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) Pharmacies, drugs and other consumables are sold at a significant discount of up to 50% on market rates.
• The Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme (PM-NDP) conducts free dialysis sessions.
• Maternal health programs such as Janani Shishu Yojana have benefitted lakhs of mothers.
• Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan has helped identify more than 6 lakh high-risk pregnancies through more than 1.16 crore antenatal check-ups.
• LaQshya – ‘Labour room Quality improvement Initiative’ is a focused and targeted approach to strengthen key processes related to the labour rooms and maternity operation theatres.
• A singular and landmark achievement for India is that it has been validated for Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination (MNTE) in April 2015. Noteworthy is that India’s Under-five Mortality Rate and Maternal Mortality Ratio declined at a higher pace than the global average.
• A significant accomplishment has been an expansion of the world’s biggest public health intervention i.e, Universal Immunization Program (UIP), by launching five new vaccines (Measles-Rubella, Pneumococcal, Rotavirus, Inactivated Polio and Japanese Encephalitis). Mission Indra dhanush was an important component of UIP. For achieving the target of achieving 90% full immunization, Intensified Mission Indra dhanush was launched in 2017.
• MoHFW implements several programs to cater to each life stage of a child i.e, ante-natal to adolescent and thereunto family planning and pregnancy.
  • The MAA – Mother’s Absolute Affection has enhanced the focus on breastfeeding.
  • Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDFC) to combat mortality in children due to childhood diarrhoea
  • National Deworming Day (NDD) to combat Soil-Transmitted Helminth (STH) infections.
  • The Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) entails provision for child health screening and early intervention services through early detection and management of 4 D’s i.e, Defects at birth, Diseases, Deficiencies, Development delays.
  • With a high focus on the adolescent health, the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) was launched.
  • Mission Parivar Vikas programme was launched in 2016 for increasing access to contraceptives and family planning services. As a part of Nayi Pehel, family planning kit is provided by the ASHAs to the newlyweds.
  • Saas Bahu Sammelan are held to encourage young married women and their mothers-in-law to freely discuss matters related to family planning and reproductive health.
• An announcement has been made by the PM for achievement of TB Free India by 2025.

The NHP 2017 clearly states tapping of IT for healthcare, and MoHFW has several IT initiatives including development of ‘inter-operable Electronic Health Records (HER) system, telemedicine services, public health IT solutions, Mother and Child Tracking System, Kilkari App etc. There has been a sharp focus on provision of affordable, accessible quality healthcare through various strategic interventions. The efforts are in the direction of achieving Swastha Bharat, Samruddh Bharat.