World Health Day 2025: Maternal and Newborn Health Focus
Why in the news
World Health Day 2025 put the spotlight on maternal and newborn health. For India, despite Ayushman Bharat and PM-JAY, access remains uneven, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas.
Key facts
- Rural gap: 70% of the population lives in villages but only 35-40% of health infrastructure is there.
- Budget: ₹99,858.56 crore, or 1.97% of the Union Budget 2025-26, went to the Health Ministry, below global benchmarks.
- Out-of-pocket spending pushes 55 million Indians into poverty each year.
- Telemedicine: Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission and eSanjeevani enabled over 10 crore teleconsultations.
Health indicators quoted
| Indicator | Figure | Source cited |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths from non-communicable diseases | Over 65% | – |
| Indians with diabetes | 101 million | IDF, 2024 |
| Deaths due to air pollution | 1.6 million | The Lancet, 2019 |
| Children under 5 who are stunted | 35% | NFHS-5 |
| Women aged 15-49 who are anaemic | 57% | NFHS-5 (as stated) |
| Indians with mental disorders | 14% | NIMHANS, 2023 |
Concerns
- Health and Wellness Centres face staff shortages, patchy medicine supply and weak diagnostics.
- Double burden: infectious diseases persist while NCDs rise.
- Only 37% of rural households have internet; digital literacy gaps; data privacy and cybersecurity worries.
- Poshan Abhiyaan and ICDS need better monitoring, community engagement and inter-department coordination.
Way forward
- Invest in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities and give incentives to doctors serving underserved areas.
- Raise public health spending and favour prevention: early screening, school health programmes, awareness drives.
- Expand rural digital infrastructure, train frontline workers, enforce data protection.
- Align with SDG 3; learn from nations focusing on universal health coverage and early childhood development.
- Build on Tele-MANAS (mental health support), Climate Health Action Plans and the G20 presidency’s vaccine-equity and digital-health leadership.
Exam angle
- Theme of World Health Day 2025: maternal and newborn health.
- Mental health helpline initiative named: Tele-MANAS.
- SDG linked to health: Goal 3.