Health: The Right to Wellness

Ensuring Affordable and Quality healthcare for all.

What are the key policy initiatives, targets, and digital healthcare platforms in India?	- PM-JAY: World's largest health insurance (₹5 lakh/family). - HWC: Health & Wellness Centres for primary and preventive care. - ABDM (Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission): ABHA cards for longitudinal digital health records. ABDM Sandbox allows testing of new digital health products. - Vision 2035 (NITI Aayog): White paper on Public Health Surveillance in India; focuses on a "One Health" approach, predictive analysis, and making surveillance citizen-centric. - Kiran Helpline (1800-599-0019): A 24/7 toll-free mental health rehabilitation helpline launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. - National Rare Diseases Policy 2021: Focuses on indigenous research and local manufacturing of drugs; introduces a crowdfunding mechanism for treating rare diseases. - Right to Health (Rajasthan Act): First state to guarantee free OPD/IPD; defines health as a right. - National Suicide Prevention Strategy: Target 10% reduction by 2030. - AMR Red Line Campaign: Prevention of over-the-counter antibiotic sales. - TB Elimination 2025: Aims to eliminate TB 5 years ahead of global goals. Incidence reduced to 195/1 lakh (2023) from 208 (2018). - Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR): Declined to 19 per 1,000 live births (2021) from 25 (2015). - Institutional Births: Reached 90.6% (2019-21 reference). - Budgetary Allocation: Dept. of Health Research allocation increased to ₹3,900.69 crore (2025-26). - Family Planning: Modern method usage by married women (15-49) rose to 56.40% (2019-21). - Katoch Committee: Recommendations for reducing dependency on imported APIs (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) and Bulk Drugs. - Health Financing: Need to increase spending to 2.5% of GDP (NHP 2017 goal).
Analyze India's public health spend trends and out-of-pocket health expenditure (OOPE).	- Visual: Public Health Spend vs Target & Catastrophic OOPE Trend Public Health Expenditure (% of GDP) vs Target Loading chart... Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (% of Total Health Expenditure) Loading chart... Source: National Health Accounts Estimates for India / NHP 2017. Key Insight: Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) has significantly declined from 62.6% to 47.1%, driven by increased public health spending and schemes like Ayushman Bharat. However, public health spending remains constrained at 1.5% of GDP, and doubling it to the 2.5% target remains critical to ensuring full financial protection for vulnerable families.
What is the National Health Mission (NHM) and the targets/reforms transition under the 12th Plan?	12th FYP: The Great Health Transition (NRHM to NHM) (Source: 12th FYP Vol. I & III / Latest Stats: NHM Progress Report & TB Report) The 12th Plan marked the transition to a Universal Health Coverage (UHC) paradigm, expanding NRHM into the comprehensive National Health Mission (NHM). 12th Plan Progress Indicators: - Maternal Mortality (MMR): 212 (2009) → 100 → 97 (SRS 2018-20/Latest) - Infant Mortality (IMR): 47 → 25 → 28 (SRS 2020) - Child Sex Ratio (0-6): 927 → 950 → 929 (NFHS-5) - TB Incidence: - → - → 195/1 Lakh (India TB Report 2024) - Free Drugs (FDDS): - → Universal Access → PMBJY (Jan Aushadhi) saturation Key Institutional Transitions: - Free Drugs & Diagnostics Service (FDDS): The 12th Plan mandated all states to provide free essential drugs in public facilities—the precursor to today's Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana. - Urban Health (NUHM): For the first time, a dedicated National Urban Health Mission was launched to address the health of slum dwellers and urban poor. - NCD Shift: Recognizing the "Epidemiological Transition," the 12th Plan launched the first national program for Non-Communicable Diseases (Cancer, Diabetes, CVDs). Key Takeaway: The 12th Plan proposed a 2.5% GDP outlay for health, which was later solidified in the National Health Policy 2017. It recognized that without doubling the public spend, 'Financial Protection' against catastrophic health shocks would remain a dream.
What core structural issues impact health infrastructure and delivery in India?	- Doctor Ratio: shortage in rural areas (Brain Drain/Urban bias). - Pharma: rising cost of life-saving drugs vs Generic push (Jan Aushadhi).
List the related modules and key phrases for mains.	- GS2 Social Justice: [Poverty & Hunger](/upsc/gs2/social-justice-mains/poverty-hunger-mains) - GS3 Infrastructure: [Digital Infrastructure](/upsc/gs3/infrastructure-mains/digital-mains) Mains Keywords ABDM Sandbox; ABHA Card; Vision 2035 (Public Health); Kiran Helpline; Rare Diseases Policy 2021; Katoch Committee (API); Right to Health; AMR Red Line; TB 2025; Wellness-Saturated.