The latest data from the Sample Registration System shows a promising outcome of government initiatives aimed at enhancing healthcare services in rural areas. More individuals in these regions are now making use of formal healthcare facilities than ever before. The result is evident in various health indicators like improved infant mortality rate, birth and death rates. This article explores these findings and their implications on rural healthcare.
Improved Health Indicators in Rural Areas
A significant decrease in infant mortality and birth rates has been recorded in rural areas over the past decade. The infant mortality rate, a key determinant of a country’s health landscape, plummeted from 58% in 2008 to 37% in 2017, pertaining to infant deaths per 1,000 live births. Simultaneously, the birth rate also saw a reduction, going down from 24.4% to 21.8% during the same period.
Furthermore, the death rate also witnessed a decline from 2007 to 2017. Notably, the rate of decrease was more profound in rural areas, approximately 14.5%, compared to urban regions with a 10.5% decrease.
Increased Use of Healthcare Services
The surge in health indicators suggests a rise in rural inhabitants visiting doctors at both private and government-owned healthcare clinics/hospitals. Medical attention received by women during childbirth went up from 73.1% in 2012 to 81.9% in 2017. Similarly, in the case of deaths, the percentage of individuals who received medical attention increased from 34.6% in 2012 to 47% in 2017. All the 22 states surveyed demonstrated improvement over their previous records.
Performances of Different States
Nagaland emerged as the state with the most striking healthcare indicators. It recorded the lowest death and birth rates among all states. Similarly, other states also registered improvements. The death rate across 29 states and Delhi in 2017 varied from a low of 3.6% in Nagaland to 7.5% in Chhattisgarh. On the birth rate indicator too, Nagaland secured the fifth position with Chandigarh at 13.5%.
Nagaland’s rural areas particularly stunned with impressive health indicators. The birth rate was recorded at 14%, well below the national average of 21.8%. The death rate was comparatively low at 4.2% against the national average of 6.9%. Impressively, the infant mortality rate stood at 7% in the state’s rural regions.
| Parameter | Nagaland | All-India Rural Average |
|---|---|---|
| Birth Rate | 14% | 21.8% |
| Death Rate | 4.2% | 6.9% |
| IMR | 7% | Not Given |
Healthcare Spending in India
As it stands, India’s healthcare expenditure remains relatively low, accounting for just 1.4% of the country’s GDP. The central government is aiming to elevate this to 2.5% by 2025. The National Health Policy of 2017 has further outlined goals to bolster states’ health spending to over 8%. For the fiscal year 2020, an outlay of ₹64,999 crore has been allocated for health, marking a 16% increase from the revised estimates of FY19. This includes ₹33,651 crore dedicated to the government’s flagship scheme, the National Health Mission.
