India Achieves Notable Progress in Maternal and Infant Mortality Rates: Centre
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Synopsis
India has made impressive strides in reducing maternal and infant mortality rates, as highlighted by Union Minister Anupriya Patel. The Maternal Mortality Ratio has fallen significantly, and similar improvements have been observed in Infant Mortality Rates, surpassing global averages.
Key Takeaways
- Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) decreased from 130 to 97.
- Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) declined from 39 to 28 per 1,000 live births.
- India's MMR reduced by 83% compared to a 42% global reduction.
- NMR decreased from 26 to 20 per 1,000 live births.
- Under-5 mortality rate fell from 45 to 32 per 1,000 live births.
New Delhi, March 19 (NationPress) India has achieved remarkable progress in both maternal and infant mortality rates, according to Anupriya Patel, the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare. The country's Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has seen a notable drop of 33 points, moving from 130 in 2014-16 to 97 in 2018-20 per lakh live births, Patel reported in a written response to the Rajya Sabha.
In parallel, the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has decreased from 39 per 1,000 live births in 2014 to 28 per 1,000 live births in 2020, she noted.
This data is sourced from the Sample Registration System (SRS), as released by the Registrar General of India (RGI).
Patel indicated that the enhancements in maternal and child health have outstripped the global averages observed over the last three decades.
The MMR in India has decreased by an impressive 83%, in contrast to the global reduction of 42%, Patel stated.
Similarly, the IMR has fallen by 69%, compared to a global decline of 55%, she added.
The statistics are derived from the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group report (UN-MMIEG 1990-2020).
Additionally, the nation has recorded a significant reduction in both the Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) and the Under-5 Mortality Rate.
The NMR decreased from 26 per 1,000 live births in 2014 to 20 per 1,000 live births in 2020, Patel explained.
The under-5 mortality rate has also seen a decline, falling from 45 per 1,000 live births in 2014 to 32 per 1,000 live births in 2020, she remarked.
Referencing the UN-MMIEG 1990-2020 report, Patel highlighted that the IMR and under-5 mortality rates have also exceeded global figures.
The NMR in India has dropped by 65%, as opposed to a global reduction of 51%, while the Under-5 Mortality Rate has decreased by 75%, exceeding the global reduction of 58%.
Patel also pointed out the technological advancements implemented under the National Health Mission to enhance patient care. These include the U-WIN (Digital Vaccination Platform), the Tele-MANAS (Mental Health Helpline), and the Mobile Medical Units Monitoring Portal.
The government is also providing financial assistance through the implementation of the Free Drugs Service Initiative (FDSI) and Free Diagnostic Service Initiatives (FDSI) under the National Health Mission (NHM) across all states and union territories.
These initiatives aim to guarantee the availability of essential medications and diagnostics while minimizing the Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) for patients visiting public healthcare facilities, particularly for marginalized communities, Patel stated.
Consequently, the OOPE as a proportion of the Total Health Expenditure (THE) has decreased from 64.2% in 2013-14 to 39.4% in 2021-22, according to the National Health Accounts Estimates.
