The SDG Index 2025 India Health report highlights the country’s progress on Sustainable Development Goal 3 – Good Health & Well-being. This goal covers maternal and child health, universal healthcare, epidemic control, non-communicable diseases, and affordable medicines. Understanding India’s SDG Index 2025 India Health performance is crucial for UPSC preparation, as it reflects both achievements and challenges in the health sector. Join Telegram :Join our Telegram group to get instant alerts and study materials on current affairs and important topics: Link Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index 2025 What are SDGs? The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a universal set of 17 goals adopted by UN Member States in 2015, as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They aim to balance economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection. SDGs replaced the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) (2000–2015). India monitors its progress through the SDG India Index (NITI Aayog). SDG 3 – Good Health & Well-being Maternal & Child Health Aim: Reduce maternal mortality ratio (MMR) to below 70 per 100,000 live births. Focus on safe childbirth, skilled birth attendance, and nutrition. Reduce under-5 mortality through immunisation, nutrition programs, and neonatal care. Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Ensure affordable and accessible healthcare for all citizens. Includes financial protection (insurance), essential medicines, and healthcare infrastructure. Epidemics & Diseases End tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases by 2030. Strengthen disease surveillance, early diagnosis, and free treatment access. Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Address lifestyle diseases like diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and cardiovascular conditions. Focus on prevention through awareness, screening, and healthy lifestyle promotion. Immunisation & Vaccination Universal coverage against diseases like measles, polio, hepatitis, and COVID-19. Prevents child mortality and ensures herd immunity. Road Traffic Injuries & Accidents Reduce accidental deaths by improving road safety laws, helmets/seatbelts use, trauma care centres. Mental Health & Substance Abuse Tackle issues of depression, anxiety, suicide prevention, and drug/alcohol abuse. Promote awareness, counselling, and mental health inclusion in public health policy. Affordable Medicines & Vaccines Improve access to low-cost essential drugs and vaccines. Promote generic medicines and local production to cut costs, especially in developing nations. Key Challenges for India 1. Unaffordability of Healthcare Out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) in India is ~47% of total health spending (World Bank, 2023). Middle and lower-middle class families often fall into poverty due to medical bills. Health insurance penetration is still limited. 2. Middle-Income Group Gap Poor households benefit from targeted schemes, rich can afford private healthcare → but middle-income groups get squeezed. Often ineligible for government subsidies but unable to afford costly private treatment. 3. Dual Disease Burden Communicable diseases like TB, dengue, and malaria persist. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, cancer, hypertension are rising rapidly due to lifestyle changes. This dual burden strains health systems. 4. Poor Health Infrastructure Doctor–population ratio: ~1:1456 (WHO recommends 1:1000). Shortage of specialists in rural areas (obstetricians, paediatricians, anaesthetists). Inadequate public hospitals → over-reliance on costly private sector. Join Telegram :Join our Telegram group to get instant alerts and study materials on current affairs and important topics: Link Government Schemes – Key Points & Role Ayushman Bharat – PM-JAY (2018) World’s largest health insurance scheme. Provides ₹5 lakh cover per family per year. Role: Protects poor & vulnerable from catastrophic medical expenses. Health & Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) Aim: 1.5 lakh centres across India. Provide preventive care, maternal & child health, NCD screening. Role: Strengthens primary healthcare access. National Health Mission (NHM) Includes NRHM (rural) + NUHM (urban). Focus on maternal health, child immunisation, and disease control. Role: Reduces IMR & MMR; strengthens grassroots health workers (ASHA). Mission Indradhanush (2014, expanded in 2017) Expands immunisation coverage for children & pregnant women. Role: Raises vaccination coverage → currently ~76%. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) Builds digital health IDs and medical records. Role: Improves transparency & patient-centric services. TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (2025 Target) Aims to eliminate tuberculosis by 2025 (ahead of global 2030 target). Role: Screening, nutrition support, free medicines. Comparative Table – India vs Global (SDG 3 Health Indicators) Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) India: ~103 per 100,000 live births Global Average: 152 Developed Nations: <10 Under-5 Mortality Rate India: ~35 per 1000 live births Global Average: 37 Developed Nations: <5 Life Expectancy India: ~69–70 years Global Average: ~73 years Developed Nations: 78–82 years Health Expenditure (% of GDP) India: <3% Global Average: ~6% Developed Nations: 8–9% Immunisation Coverage India: ~76% Global Average: ~85% Developed Nations: >95% Join Telegram :Join our Telegram group to get instant alerts and study materials on current affairs and important topics: Link Impact Positive SDG framework provides measurable global benchmarks for India’s progress. Promotes global cooperation in vaccines, medicines, and epidemic control. Encourages state-level competition via NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index. Challenges High Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) pushes families into poverty. Persistent rural–urban divide and inter-state health inequalities. Rising dual disease burden → infectious diseases + lifestyle diseases. Watch Video – Click Join YouTube:Subscribe to our YouTube channel for daily updates on current affairs, environment, governance, and more: Link Join WhatsApp:Join our WhatsApp group to get instant alerts and study materials on current affairs and important topics: Link Join Instagram:Follow us on Instagram for quick facts, infographics, and updates on UPSC and government exams: Link Join Facebook:Like and follow our Facebook page to stay connected with detailed analysis, live sessions, and discussions: Link Join Telegram :Join our Telegram group to get instant alerts and study materials on current affairs and important topics: Link
