National Health Policy 2017

National Health Policy 2017
Name	National Health Policy 2017
Country	India
Released	2017
Ministry	Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Preceding	National Health Policy 2002
Status	Active

National Health Policy 2017 The National Health Policy 2017 is an Indian health policy document issued to outline a strategic framework for India's health sector, succeeding the National Health Policy 2002 and aiming to align with global agendas such as the Sustainable Development Goals and initiatives by the World Health Organization. The policy articulates health system priorities, financing targets, and institutional arrangements intended to improve population health across states including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. It references partnerships with multilateral agencies like the World Bank, bilateral donors such as United Kingdom, and foundations including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Background and development

The policy was drafted under the stewardship of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with input from expert committees convened by institutions including the Indian Council of Medical Research, the NITI Aayog, and academic centres such as the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi and Public Health Foundation of India. Consultations involved stakeholders from state health departments of Punjab, Gujarat, and Rajasthan, civil society organisations like Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, and professional bodies including the Medical Council of India and the Indian Medical Association. The document draws on international precedents set by the Alma-Ata Declaration and policy recommendations from the WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia.

Key objectives and principles

The policy sets explicit targets including reducing maternal mortality ratio and infant mortality rate, expanding access to essential medicines, and increasing health expenditure to 2.5% of GDP by a target year. It emphasizes universality, equity, quality, and people-centered care, invoking frameworks associated with the Right to Health debates and aligning with commitments made at the United Nations General Assembly and during conferences convened by the World Health Organization. The policy underscores priority for vulnerable populations profiled by agencies such as the National Sample Survey Office and Census of India.

Health system reforms and strategies

Reforms proposed include strengthening primary healthcare networks, revitalising primary health centres modeled on successful state examples like Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and scaling up programmes such as the National Health Mission (India). The policy advocates integration across levels of care informed by case studies from Brazil's family health strategy and Thailand's universal coverage scheme. It calls for workforce development influenced by recommendations from the Medical Council of India, educational institutions including the National Board of Examinations (India), and workforce planning reports from the World Bank. Infrastructure strategies reference schemes administered by the Ministry of Rural Development (India) and capacities of tertiary centres such as Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research.

Financing and insurance mechanisms

Financing provisions set a roadmap for public expenditure increases and propose pooling and strategic purchasing arrangements to be implemented with state treasuries and agencies including the National Health Agency (India). The policy anticipates complementarities with insurance initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat, and references financial models used by programmes in Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh. Technical assistance from international financial institutions like the World Bank and bilateral partners such as the United States Agency for International Development informed actuarial analyses. It also discusses essential medicines procurement reforms drawing on procurement practices from organisations like Central Drugs Standard Control Organization.

Implementation, governance, and monitoring

Implementation responsibilities are delineated between the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, state health departments, and institutional actors including the National Centre for Disease Control and state public health institutes such as the National Institute of Epidemiology. Governance mechanisms recommend strengthening regulatory bodies including the Medical Council of India and establishing state-level health missions modeled on the National Health Mission (India). Monitoring frameworks align with indicators tracked by the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India and international reporting to the World Health Organization, and propose independent evaluations by academic institutions such as the Indian Council of Medical Research.

Impact, reception, and critiques

Reception among policymakers in capitals such as New Delhi and state legislatures elicited praise for ambition from organisations like the NITI Aayog and criticism from advocacy groups including Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana stakeholders and health economists from universities such as the Jawaharlal Nehru University and Indian Statistical Institute. Scholars debated the realism of the 2.5% GDP target, citing fiscal analyses by the Reserve Bank of India and fiscal commissions. Civil society commentators referenced equity concerns raised by National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights and technical critiques from think tanks including the Observer Research Foundation. Empirical assessments have since examined outcomes in states including Mizoram, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh with evaluations by international partners like the World Bank and domestic research from the Institute of Economic Growth.

Category:Health policy of India