The status of the health sector is a critical barometer of a society’s well-being and resilience. In any nation, the effectiveness, accessibility, and inclusivity of healthcare services profoundly influence the quality of life and societal progress. From the availability of medical facilities to the distribution of resources, the status of the health sector encapsulates multifaceted dimensions that intersect with economic, social, and political realms. In recent years, global challenges such as pandemics, demographic shifts, and technological advancements have spurred a reevaluation of healthcare systems worldwide, highlighting the need for innovation, equity, and sustainability. Understanding the current status of the health sector is essential for fostering informed policies, advancing medical research, and ensuring that every individual can access the care they need to thrive.
Health Status and Programme Impact
| Life Expectancy and healthy life | Increase Life Expectancy at birth from 67.5 to 70 by 2025. Establish regular tracking of Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY) Index as a measure of burden of disease and its trends by major categories by 2022. Reduction of TFR to 2.1 at national and sub-national level by 2025. |
| Mortality by Age and/ or cause | Reduce Under Five Mortality to 23 by 2025 and MMR from current levels to 100 by 2020. Reduce infant mortality rate to 28 by 2019. Reduce neo-natal mortality to 16 and still birth rate to “single digit” by 2025. |
| Reduction of disease prevalence/ incidence | Achieve global target of 2020 which is also termed as target of 90:90:90, for HIV/AIDS i.e, – 90% of all people living with HIV know their HIV status, – 90% of all people diagnosed with HIV infection receive sustained antiretroviral therapy and 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression. Achieve and maintain elimination status of Leprosy by 2018, Kala-Azar by 2017 and Lymphatic Filariasis in endemic pockets by 2017. To achieve and maintain a cure rate of >85% in new sputum positive patients for TB and reduce incidence of new cases, to reach elimination status by 2025. To reduce the prevalence of blindness to 0.25/ 1000 by 2025 and disease burden by one third from current levels. To reduce premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory diseases by 25% by 2025. |
Health Systems Performance
| Coverage of Health Services | Increase utilization of public health facilities by 50% from current levels by 2025. Antenatal care coverage to be sustained above 90% and skilled attendance at birth above 90% by 2025. More than 90% of the newborn are fully immunized by one year of age by 2025. Meet need of family planning above 90% at national and sub national level by 2025. 80% of known hypertensive and diabetic individuals at household level maintain “controlled disease status” by 2025. |
| Cross Sectoral goals related to health | Relative reduction in prevalence of current tobacco use by 15% by 2020 and 30% by 2025. Reduction of 40% in prevalence of stunting of under-five children by 2025. Access to safe water and sanitation to all by 2020 (Swachh Bharat Mission). Reduction of occupational injury by half from current levels of 334 per lakh agricultural workers by 2020. National/ State level tracking of selected health behaviour. |
Health Systems strengthening
| Health finance | Increase health expenditure by Government as a percentage of GDP from the existing 1.1 5 % to 2.5 % by 2025. Increase State sector health spending to > 8% of their budget by 2020. Decrease in proportion of households facing catastrophic health expenditure from the current levels by 25%, by 2025. |
| Health Infrastructure and Human Resource | Ensure availability of paramedics and doctors as per Indian Public Health Standard (IPHS) norm in high priority districts by 2020. Increase community health volunteers to population ratio as per IPHS norm, in high priority districts by 2025. Establish primary and secondary care facility as per norm s in high priority districts (population as well as time to reach norms) by 2025. |
| Health Management Information | Ensure district – level electronic database of information on health system components by 2020. Strengthen the health surveillance system and establish registries for diseases of public health importance by 2020. Establish federated integrated health information architecture, Health Information Exchanges and National Health Information Network by 2025. |
FAQs
Q: What is the current status of healthcare infrastructure globally?
The global healthcare infrastructure varies significantly by region. Developed countries often boast advanced medical facilities, while many developing nations struggle with inadequate infrastructure and resources. However, advancements in telemedicine and digital health are bridging some gaps, especially in remote areas.
Q; How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted healthcare systems worldwide?
The COVID-19 pandemic has placed immense strain on healthcare systems globally, exposing vulnerabilities and highlighting the need for preparedness. Hospitals faced challenges such as overwhelmed intensive care units, shortages of medical supplies, and workforce burnout. However, it also accelerated innovation in areas like vaccine development, remote patient monitoring, and healthcare delivery.
Q: What are the major challenges facing the healthcare sector today?
Some of the major challenges facing the healthcare sector include rising healthcare costs, unequal access to healthcare services, an aging population, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, and healthcare disparities among different demographic groups. Additionally, issues like data security and privacy, interoperability of health information systems, and healthcare workforce shortages pose significant challenges.
Q: What role does technology play in the modern healthcare landscape?
Technology plays a crucial role in modern healthcare, driving innovations such as electronic health records (EHRs), telemedicine, wearable devices, artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics. These technologies improve patient care, streamline administrative processes, enable remote consultations, facilitate early disease detection, and enhance treatment outcomes. However, challenges related to data privacy, cybersecurity, and digital divide must be addressed.
Q: How are governments and organizations working to improve healthcare access and quality?
Governments and organizations worldwide are implementing various strategies to improve healthcare access and quality. These include expanding healthcare coverage through insurance programs, investing in preventive care and public health initiatives, promoting healthcare innovation and research, enhancing healthcare infrastructure, and addressing social determinants of health such as poverty, education, and housing. Collaborative efforts among stakeholders are essential to achieve meaningful progress in these areas.
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