Union Health Minister emphasizes India’s independent healthcare progress and outlines major NHM milestones despite global changes.
New Delhi, January 29: Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda assured that the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) will not impact ongoing health programmes in India. Addressing a press briefing on Tuesday, Nadda emphasized that India remains a significant contributor to WHO and will continue its healthcare initiatives without disruption.
“Our projects and programmes will continue seamlessly. India is one of the major contributors to the WHO,” said Nadda.
The statement follows US President Donald Trump’s January 20 executive order to withdraw from WHO, mandating the recall of all US employees from WHO-related assignments and pausing future funding.
Major National Health Mission Achievements
Highlighting progress under the National Health Mission (NHM), Nadda outlined several milestones achieved during his tenure:
- Central Funding Growth: A 185% increase in central funds released for NHM between 2014 and 2023, with total expenditure rising to ₹59,740 crore annually—a 146% growth.
- Maternal Mortality Reduction: India’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) dropped from 556 to 97 per 100,000 live births since 1990, marking an 83% decline, outperforming the global average of 45%.
- Infant Mortality Rate: IMR fell by 69%, from 89 to 28, surpassing the global decline of 55%.
- Total Fertility Rate: TFR reduced from 3.4 in 1992-93 to 2.0 in 2019-20, below the replacement level of 2.1.
- Under-5 Mortality Rate: A 75% decline from 69 to 32 in 2020, outpacing the global reduction of 60%.
Key Initiatives Under NHM
Several new programmes have been launched under NHM since 2014, including:
- National Sickle Cell Anaemia Mission
- Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme (PMNDP)
- Mission Indradhanush (focused on immunization)
- National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP): TB incidence reduced from 237 per 100,000 population in 2015 to 195 in 2023, with TB mortality declining from 28 to 22 in the same period. Missing TB cases dropped from 15 lakh in 2015 to 1.5 lakh in 2024.
Volunteer Support
Nadda noted that over 1.56 lakh Ni-kshay Mitra volunteers are aiding more than 9.4 lakh TB patients under the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, reinforcing India’s commitment to eradicating tuberculosis.
Independent Progress Amid Global Changes
Nadda reiterated that India has surpassed several global benchmarks and achieved its National Health Policy (NHP) 2020 goals ahead of schedule in 2017. “We have moved from being a ‘high burden’ to a ‘high impact’ country,” he said.
With robust funding, targeted interventions, and comprehensive reforms, Nadda expressed confidence in India’s ability to sustain its healthcare trajectory, independent of global developments like the US withdrawal from WHO.