India Marks World Health Day 2025 with Continued Focus on Maternal, Child, & Digital Health Advancements

World Health Day, observed annually on April 7 since its inception by WHO in 1950, serves as a global call to action for collective efforts toward addressing key health challenges.

On the occasion of World Health Day 2025, India reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening public health systems with a special emphasis on maternal and child health, digital health integration, and primary care delivery.

The theme for this year, "Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures," set by the World Health Organization (WHO), highlights the importance of early life interventions to ensure long-term health and well-being.

World Health Day, observed annually on April 7 since its inception by WHO in 1950, serves as a global call to action for collective efforts toward addressing key health challenges.

In line with this, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released a detailed update highlighting India's health achievements under initiatives like Ayushman Bharat and the National Health Mission.

Maternal & Child Health Indicators Show Significant Gains

The ministry reported notable improvements in maternal and child health indicators over recent years. The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) fell from 130 per 100,000 live births in the period 2014–16 to 97 in 2018–20.

Over the last 30 years, MMR in India has declined by 83 percent, reflecting progress in maternal healthcare delivery.

Regarding child health, the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) reduced from 39 per 1,000 live births in 2014 to 28 in 2020. Similarly, the Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) decreased from 26 to 20, and the Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) from 45 to 32 per 1,000 live births during the same period.

Several maternal health initiatives have contributed to these improvements.

The Maternal Death Surveillance and Response (MDSR) mechanism has been used to identify the causes of maternal deaths and implement appropriate interventions.

Educational tools such as the Mother and Child Protection (MCP) Card and Safe Motherhood Booklet are being widely distributed to raise awareness among pregnant women about nutrition, risk signs, government schemes, and the benefits of institutional deliveries.

The Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) portal offers a digital tracking system for monitoring antenatal, delivery, and postnatal care.

Additionally, the Anaemia Mukt Bharat program, launched under POSHAN Abhiyan, focuses on testing, treating, and preventing anemia in pregnant women and adolescents through integrated nutritional and non-nutritional approaches.

Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Expands Nationwide

As of April 5, 2025, the country has established over 1.76 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Health and Wellness Centres) under the Ayushman Bharat initiative.

These centers provide comprehensive primary healthcare services and have collectively conducted over 100 crore screenings for hypertension and over 90 crore screenings for diabetes.

The expansion of these centers has significantly improved the early detection and management of non-communicable diseases, especially in rural and underserved regions.

Digital Health Ecosystem Sees Widespread Adoption

India's efforts to build a robust digital health infrastructure have gained momentum through the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).

As of April 5, 2025, more than 76 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA) have been created to facilitate secure, interoperable access to personal health records.

Over 5.95 lakh healthcare professionals and more than 3.86 lakh health facilities are now verified and registered under the ABDM framework.

The platform has enabled linking more than 52 crore health records, enhancing continuity of care and streamlining access to medical services.

The WHO World Malaria Report 2024 acknowledged India's progress in malaria control, with a 69 percent reduction in cases and a 68 percent decrease in deaths between 2017 and 2023.

India's removal from WHO's High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) group in 2024 marked a significant shift in its public health status. By contributing only 0.8 percent of global malaria cases in 2023, India has made notable strides in disease elimination.

In another milestone, India successfully eliminated trachoma as a public health problem in 2024, an achievement officially recognized by WHO.

Stay tuned for more such updates on Digital Health News.