Viksit Bharat 2047: India's Secret Weapon is Healthcare(தமிழ்)
India's Healthcare Policy as Human Capital Investment The Indian government's healthcare policy has undergone a paradigm shift, reorienting from welfare expenditure to a strategic investment in human capital. This approach is fundamental to the national vision of achieving "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India) by 2047. Major National Initiatives and Their Impact • Ayushman Bharat (2018): As the world's largest publicly funded health insurance scheme, it covers over 55 crore citizens, preventing households from falling into poverty due to catastrophic health expenses and stimulating private hospital upgrades in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. • Swachh Bharat Mission: Framed as a public-health revolution, the construction of millions of toilets has drastically reduced open defecation, cutting water-borne diseases and saving an estimated 60,000-70,000 infant lives annually. UNICEF estimates this saves each rural family around Rs 50,000 per year. • POSHAN Abhiyaan (2018): This nutrition program targets pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children to enhance cognitive development and future earnings potential. • Jan Aushadhi Kendras: Over 16,900 centers provide quality generic medicines at steep discounts, significantly reducing out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure. • Expansion of Medical Education: In the last decade, the number of medical colleges has grown from 387 to 780. India now produces over 118,000 doctors annually, the most in the world. Economic Logic and Outcomes • Decline in Out-of-Pocket Expenditure: OOP spending as a percentage of total health spending fell from 64% in 2013-14 to 39% in 2021-22. This shift allows for higher household consumption and savings. • Productivity Gains: A healthier population leads to fewer sick days, increasing workforce productivity. Healthier children achieve better educational outcomes and higher lifetime earnings. • Private Sector Growth: Insurance-backed demand has catalyzed private investment in hospitals, labs, and health-tech start-ups, generating employment in underserved areas. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. India's National Immunisation Programme: Progress and Challenges India's Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) is the world's largest, providing free vaccinations to approximately 2.6 crore infants and 2.9 crore pregnant women annually. The program has been instrumental in reducing the under-five mortality rate from 45 per 1,000 live births in 2014 to 31 in 2021. Key Achievements and Global Recognition • Historic Milestones: India has maintained its polio-free status since 2011, eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus by 2015, and was declared Yaws-free in 2016. • Mission Indradhanush (MI): Launched in 2014 to achieve 90% full immunisation coverage, this initiative and its intensified phases have vaccinated over 5.46 crore children and 1.32 crore pregnant women by 2023. • Mass Campaigns: The Measles-Rubella campaign (2017-2019) vaccinated nearly 35 crore children, one of the largest catch-up campaigns ever conducted. • COVID-19 Vaccination Drive: The programme delivered over 220 crore doses by January 2023, showcasing India’s manufacturing strength and logistical capacity. This effort was recognized with the Measles and Rubella Champion Award in 2024. Persistent Challenges and the Way Forward • Coverage Gaps: Hard-to-reach geographies, migratory populations, and low-awareness clusters remain underserved. Vaccine hesitancy, fueled by misinformation, creates pockets of vulnerability. • Pandemic Disruptions: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted routine services, contributing to measles outbreaks between 2022 and 2024. • Technological Integration: The government is building on the success of the Co-WIN platform with U-WIN, a platform for end-to-end digital management of routine immunisations. This is supported by logistics systems like the electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN). • A "One-Health" Future: The strategy is moving towards integrating the immunisation programme with broader disease surveillance systems (human, animal, and environmental) to enhance pandemic preparedne நம்ம YOUTUBE Channel-ல இதெல்லாம் FREE-யா கிடைக்கும்: ✔️ Daily Newspaper Analysis in Easy Tamil ➤ Watch Here: • தினசரி செய்தித்தாள் பகுப்பாய்வு (தமிழ்) - ... ✔️ Prelims Quick Revision (Facts & Figures) ➤ Watch Here: • Daily Current Affairs for UPSC | TNPSC Pre... ✔️ Mains Mastery (Editorial Analysis & Key Issues) ➤ Watch Here: • UPSC TNPSC Mains Current Affairs – Master ... ✔️ FREE Notes for Revision (Every Video Description-ல) ✔️ Complex Topics Made Simple in Easy Tamil **💫 Your English is NOT a Barrier Anymore. Your Determination is ENOUGH. 💪** Join our 2500+ Student Family Now! "Dream Big, Prepare Smart" –