Public Health High-Yield: National Health Policy 2017
The National Health Policy (NHP) 2017 is the current guiding framework for healthcare in India, succeeding the 2002 policy. Note that the 2015 version was merely a draft for public consultation.
Core Objectives
| Area | Key Target/Goal |
|---|---|
| Public Spend | Increase public health expenditure to 2.5% of GDP by 2025. |
| Life Expectancy | Increase life expectancy at birth from 67.5 to 70 years by 2025. |
| Mortality | Reduce IMR to 28 by 2019 and MMR to 100 by 2020. |
| Primary Care | Ensure at least 2/3rds of health budget is allocated to Primary Health Care. |
Key Strategic Pillars
- Universal Health Coverage: Focus on providing quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare to all.
- Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs): Shifting focus from “Selective” to “Comprehensive” primary healthcare.
- Digital Health: Implementation of a digital health technology ecosystem (e-Health).
- Autonomy & Accountability: Strengthening the regulatory framework for health services.
High-Yield Exam Pearl:
- Policy Shift: The NHP 2017 marks a shift from a “sick-care” model to a “wellness-centered” model.
- Exam Trap: Always remember that the 2017 policy is the official one; avoid being misled by questions referencing the 2015 “Draft” policy.