The NITI Aayog’s annual health index has identified Kerala as the top performer among larger states based on health indicators. The report is focused on examining the overall performance and incremental enhancement in states and union territories (UTs) over a two-year period, from 2016-17 to 2017-18, with 2015-16 being the base year and 2017-18 as the reference year. Developed by NITI Aayog with technical assistance from the World Bank, in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the health index is centered on 23 health indicators. Key factors such as mortality rate, total fertility rate, and sex ratio carry significant weightage. This ranking was organized into three categories: larger states, smaller states, and Union territories (UTs), aiming at an accurate comparison among similar entities.
Key Findings of the Health Index
In terms of overall performance, Kerala leads the charge, followed closely by Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. However, certain states such as Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar have shown no observable improvement in their health status.
In the arena of incremental performance, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand have emerged as leaders. Conversely, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttarakhand have been highlighted as the worst performers. It’s important to note that the report unveiled a decrease in the overall health index score of the five empowered action group (EAG) states. These are Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha.
Performance of Union Territories and Smaller States
The Union Territories (UTs) too have seen considerable changes. Chandigarh ranked first in overall performance, while Dadra and Nagar Haveli displayed significant improvement. The smaller states had Mizoram rated highest in overall performance, with Tripura and Manipur being in the lead for incremental performance.
| States / Union Territories | Overall Performance | Incremental Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Kerala | First | Not specified |
| Haryana | Not specified | First |
| Chandigarh (UT) | First | Not specified |
| Mizoram (Small State) | First | Not specified |
State-wise Performance Degradation
Despite some states showing notable progress, there has been a marked decrease in the overall health index scores for Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, raising concerns about the health status in these regions.