Lok Sabha Question No. 2172 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-11
Subject: India&#39;s Ranking on Health Indicators
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: M. B. RAJESH, PONGULETI SRINIVASA REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2172 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH DECEMBER, 2015

## INDIA'S RANKING ON H EALTH INDICATORS

## 2172. SHRI M.B. RAJESH: SHRI PONGULETI SRINIVASA REDDY:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  cognizance  of  India's  low  ranking  in  the  list  o nations, based on the data on factors such as life expectancy and causes of death, recei the United Nations, the World Health Organization and the World Bank;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether the country has lagged behind different developing countries including Nepa Bangladesh in key health indicators, if so, the details thereof along with t he reasons therefor; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to improve the health standardsin the country

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

- (a)& (b) : No such information has been received in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
- (c): Certain  key  health  indicators  of  India  in  comparison  to  some  developing  count including  Nepal  and  Bangladesh  from  the  publication  'THE  STATE  OF  THE  WORLD'S CHILDREN 2015' brought out by UNICEF, are annexed. The reasons for low performance include issues pertaining to adequacy of access and quality of healthcare, affordability disparities, other socio cultural determinants of health etc.
- (d): The  Government  of  India  under  Nation al  Health  Mission  has  taken  several  steps  to improve the health standards in the country. These include: promoting institutional del strengthening of essential and emergency obstetric care services, strengthening referral launching  of  Jan ani  Shishu  Suraksha  Karyakram, Integrated  Management  of  Neo - natal  & Childhood Illness, engagement of ASHAs (Accredited Social Health Activist) in  the commun level,  Navajat Shishu  Suraksha  Karyakram,  setting up of sick new born care units at t hospitals, promoting exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding, strengthening ro immunisation  programme,  focussing  on  reduction  in  morbidity  and  mortality  due  to  ac respiratory  infections  and  diarrhoeal  diseases,  name  based  tracking  of  pr egnant  women  and children, R ashtriya  Bal  Swasthya  Karyakram,    strengthening  of  infrastructure,  maternal  de review, organising village health and nutrition days, introduction of integrated mother health card etc.

………….

## ANNEXURE

## Certain k ey health indicators of India and some developing countries

| Country    |   Lifeexpectancy at birth ( in years) 2013 |   I nfant mortality rate 2013 |   M aternal mortality ratio 2013 ( Adjusted) |   Underweight(%) under agefive years ( 2009- 2013) |
|------------|--------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
| India      |                                         66 |                            41 |                                          190 |                                                 44 |
| China      |                                         75 |                            11 |                                           32 |                                                  3 |
| Vietnam    |                                         76 |                            19 |                                           49 |                                                 12 |
| Bangladesh |                                         71 |                            33 |                                          170 |                                                 37 |
| Nepal      |                                         68 |                            32 |                                          190 |                                                 29 |
| Pakistan   |                                         67 |                            69 |                                          170 |                                                 32 |
| Sri Lanka  |                                         74 |                             8 |                                           29 |                                                 26 |

Source:  THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S CHILDREN 201 5, UNICEF.