World Health Organization (WHO) has selected “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures” as the theme for World Health Day 2025. India is advancing its healthcare system through the implementation of two national health programs: Ayushman Bharat and National Health Mission. These initiatives are driving significant progress in ministries focused on maternal and child health, digital health, digital health operations, and overall public health infrastructure.
Significance Of World Health Day
Every year on April 7, World Health Day is observed to highlight the importance of global health and to support worldwide initiatives addressing critical health challenges. WHO launched this annual event in 1950 to bring together governments, institutions, and communities focused on key health priorities.
Progress Through The National Health Mission
According to an official release from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the National Health Mission, under its leadership, has made substantial progress in improving public health outcomes across the nation.
Improvements In Maternal And Child Health Indicators
The release mentioned that the MMR (Maternal Mortality Ratio) in India dropped from 130 (2014-16) to 97 (2018-20) per 1,00,000 live births, a decline of 33 points. “Over the last 30 years (1990-2020), MMR declined by 83% in India,” the release stated.
It also highlighted that IMR (Infant Mortality Rate) dropped from 39 (2014) to 28 (2020) per 1,000 live births, NMR(Neonatal Mortality Rate) reduced from 26 (2014) to 20 (2020) per 1,000 live births and U5MR(Under-5 Mortality Rate) declined from 45 (2014) to 32 (2020) per 1,000 live births.
Maternal Health Initiatives
The government also took several initiatives for Maternal Health and Pregnant Women. As per the release, Maternal Death Surveillance and Response (MDSR) was conducted at facility and community levels to identify causes of maternal deaths and implement corrective actions for improving obstetric care. Mother and Child Protection (MCP) Card & Safe Motherhood Booklet were distributed to educate pregnant women on nutrition, rest, pregnancy danger signs, government schemes, and benefits of institutional deliveries.
Technology-Driven Health Monitoring
Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Portal: A name-based digital platform to track pregnant women and newborns, ensuring timely antenatal, delivery, and postnatal care. Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB): Part of POSHAN Abhiyan; focuses on testing, treatment, and prevention of anaemia in adolescents and pregnant women through nutrition, awareness, and addressing non-nutritional causes. The release stated that as of April 5, 2025, there are over 1.76 lakh active Ayushman Arogya Mandirs(Health & Wellness Centres) in India, providing comprehensive primary health care.
According to the portal, 107.10 crores screenings for hypertension and 94.56 crores screenings for diabetes have been conducted at the Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs).
The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) is a unified digital health ecosystem to securely connect patients, healthcare providers, and systems through an interoperable digital infrastructure. As of April 5, 2025, over 76 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA) have been created under the ABDM. There are over 5.95 lakh verified healthcare professionals registered under the ABDM Scheme, with over 3.86 lakh verified health facilities. Under ABDM, more than 52 crores of health records are linked.
Further, the release highlighted that the WHO World Malaria Report 2024 highlights India’s major strides in malaria elimination, with a 69 percent drop in cases and a 68 percent reduction in deaths between 2017 and 2023. “Contributing just 0.8 percent of global cases in 2023, India’s exit from WHO’s High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) group in 2024 marks a significant public health achievement,” the release stated. The Government of India has eliminated Trachoma as a public health problem in 2024, a feat recognised by the WHO, it stated.
