600+ GS Essay: Theme

Target 600+ in GS & ESSAY
MK YADAV Sir
MENTORED 1000+ CIVIL SERVANTS
Theme : Health & Nutrition

QUALITY ENRICHMENT PROGRAMME (QEP): TARGET 2024/25
Under the Guidance of M K YADAV
INDEX
1 PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS (2013-2022) 2
- REPEATED THEMES FROM PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS (PYQs)
- OTHER EXPECTED TOPICS FOR 2024/25
2 FACTSHEET 5
3 KEYWORDS 7
4 CASE STUDIES & BEST PRACTICES: Local, National, International 9
5 FROM THE SPEECHES: PM, PRESIDENT, & VP 11
6 CHALLENGES OF INDIA’S PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM 12
7 NUTRITION CHALLENGE IN INDIA 14
8 NATIONAL DIGITAL HEALTH MISSION (NDHM) 16
9 NATIONAL HEALTH POLICY, 2017 18
10 OTHER IMPORTANT MICRO-DIAGRAMS 20
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1 PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS (2013-2022)

2013
GS2
• The concept of Mid Day Meal (MDM) scheme is almost a century old in India with early beginnings in
Madras Presidency in pre-independent India. The scheme has again been given impetus in most states in
the last two decades. Critically examine its twin objectives, latest mandates and success.
• Identify the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that are related to health. Discuss the success of the
actions taken by the Government for achieving the same. (200 words) 10 Marks
2015
GS2
• Public health system has limitation in providing universal health coverage. Do you think that private sector
can help in bridging the gap? What other viable alternatives do you suggest?
2016
GS2
• Professor Amartya Sen has advocated important reforms in the realms of primary education and primary
health care. What are your suggestions to improve their status and performance?
2017
GS2
• Hunger and Poverty are the biggest challenges for good governance in India still today. Evaluate how far
successive governments have progressed in dealing with these humongous problems. Suggest measures
for improvement.
2018
GS2
• Appropriate local community level healthcare intervention is a prerequisite to achieve ‘Health for All’ in
India. Explain.
2019
GS2
• There is a growing divergence in the relationship between poverty and hunger in India. The shrinking of
social expenditure by the government is forcing the poor to spend more on non-food essential items
squeezing their food-budget. Elucidate.
2020
GS2
• In order to enhance the prospects of social development, sound and adequate health care policies are
needed in the fields of geriatric and maternal health care. Discuss.
GS3
• COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented devastation worldwide. However, technological
advancements are being availed readily to win over the crisis. Give an account of how technology was
sought to aid management of the pandemic.
2021
GS2
• “Besides being a moral imperative of Welfare State, primary health structure is a necessary pre-condition
for sustainable development.” Analyze.
2
GS3
• What are the salient features of the National Food Security Act, 2013? How has the Food Security Bill
helped in eliminating hunger and malnutrition in India?
2022
GS3
• The increase in life expectancy in the country has led to newer health challenges in the community.
What are those challenges and what steps need to be taken to meet them?
REPEATED THEMES FROM PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS (PYQs)
• THEME 1: HEALTHCARE
- Public Healthcare; Universal health Coverage
- Primary Healthcare; local community level healthcare
- Specific issues: Geriatric health; Maternal health; Life expectancy & healthcare challenges
• THEME 2: NUTRITION
- Schemes & Act: Mid-day Meal, National Food Security Act, MDGs related to health
- Malnutrition, Hunger & Poverty
• THEME 3: HEALTHCARE, TECHNOLOGY & PHARMACEUTICALS
- COVID -19 & Technology
OTHER EXPECTED TOPICS FOR 2024/25
• PRIMARY HEALTHCARE
- Investments in public health and primary healthcare pay rich economic dividends. Analyze.
• PUBLIC HEALTHCARE
- While the majority of out-of-pocket expenditure in India is incurred in the private sector, the real succour
to the COVID-19 affected people has been the public health care. In the light of the given statement,
critically examine the importance of public sector in ensuring equitable and accessible health care in
India.
• PREVENTIVE HEALTHCARE & HEALTH INSURANCE
- Preventive health care is the foundation on which Universal Health Care is built. To what extent can the
insurance based health care delivery be a road to Universal Health Care? What measures can India take
to achieve universal health coverage through insurance-based model?
• DIGITALISATION OF HEALTHCARE
- For National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) to successfully act as the backbone for integrated digital
health infrastructure, the government should address the challenges faced by it. Examine.
- Critically analyze the role of digitalisation as a solution to India's challenged healthcare system.
• ONE HEALTH
- The foundation of a non-inclusive healthcare has been challenged by the recent menace of COVID-19.
Discuss the significance of “One Health” as an approach to achieve better health outcomes.
• CHILD HEALTH
- Despite decades of investment in child health, India continues to hold one of the poorest records in this
aspect. Highlighting the factors that impact the health status of children in India, suggest practical
measures to counter the challenge.
3
• MALNUTRITION & HIDDEN HUNGER

- While the policy prescription in India to reduce hunger have been focused on ensuring the availability of
food, it is further challenged by huge prevalence of ‘hidden hunger’. Defining the characteristics of
hidden hunger, examine the various government programmes to address the issue.
• HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE: PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission
- Public health infrastructure Is ‘the nerve centre of the public health system’. Comment.
• HEALTH GOVERNANCE: National Medical Commission
• MENTAL HEALTHCARE
- “What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candour, and more unashamed conversation.”
Explain the role of social stereotypes and prejudices in aggravating issue of mental health in India.
One Health
- Health Infrastructure
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4
2 FACTSHEET
General facts
Population: • India became most populous country in the World (18% of World Population)
Demographic - Growth rate: 1.2% per year (Same as World growth rate).
Profile • Age group of 15-59 years (economically active): 65% of the population.
(National Health • Age group of 60+ years: 10% population
Profile 2021)
Life Expectancy
• Average: 70 Years
(National Health
• Females: 70 Years, Males: 67 Years
Profile 2021)
CURRENT TARGET UNDER TARGET UNDER SDG

NATIONAL
HEALTH POLICY
Key Indicators Infant Mortality Rate 28 (per 1000 28 by 2019 -
(SRS 2020) population)
Neonatal Mortality 20 (per 1000 live 16 by 2025 12 by 2030
Rate births)
Under-five Mortality 32 (per 1000 live 23 by 2025 25 by 2030
Rate (U5MR) births)
Maternal Mortality
• MMR - 97 per 1,00,000 live births.
Ratio
• SDG target: 70 per 1,00,000 live births by 2030. India on track to achieve the SDG target
(Registrar General
of India)
Total Fertility Rate
• Overall TFR: 2.0 (Below Replacement Levels)
(TFR)
• States yet to achieve a replacement-level of fertility of 2.1: Bihar, Meghalaya, Uttar
(NFHS – 5, 2019-
Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Manipur.
21)
Sex Ratio at Birth • Overall Sex Ratio – 1020 (increased from 933 in Census 2001)
(SRB) (NFHS – 5) • Child Sex Ratio – 929
Full immunization
coverage • Immunisation coverage among children (aged between 0-5): 60%
(SDG INDIA INDEX • National & SDG Target: 100% coverage by 2030. None of States/ UTs has achieved
2.0)
Proportion of
institutional • Institutional Deliveries increased from 40% in 2005-06 to 90% in 2019-21
deliveries (NFHS-5)
Doctor Density • India’s Doctor-population ratio: 1:834 (allopathic + AYUSH doctors)
- WHO’s recommended allopathic doctor-population ratio: 1:1000
• Total Health Expenditure (THE) in India – 3.2% of GDP (Govt + Private)
Health Expenditure • Government Health Expenditure (GHF): 40% of THE or 2.2% of GDP
National Health • Out of Pocket Expenditure (OOP)
Accounts Estimate - About 50% of THE or 1.6% of GDP (Of this, the largest expenditure (>70%) is on
(2018-19) medicines).
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Disease Burden
Non-communicable • Global: NCD responsible for 70% of all deaths worldwide
diseases (NCD) • India: > 60% of all deaths in India can be attributed to NCDs.
(WHO report)
HIV/AIDS • People Living with HIV in India: 3rd largest HIV/AIDS population in world
(SDG INDIA INDEX 2.0) • India’s HIV epidemic is slowing down: HIV incidence per 1000 uninfected
population declined from 0.64 in 1995 to 0.07 in 2017.
Tuberculosis (TB) • India is the highest TB burden country (28%) in the world and highest number of
(Annual TB Report 2023) multi-drug resistant TB cases (WHO).
Food and Nutrition

• 23% of women and 20% of men are undernourished
• Anaemia - >50% of pregnant women are anaemic.
Hunger & Malnutrition in • >65% children under age of 5 years are anaemic.
India (NFHS- 5) • Proportion of stunted children under 5 - 35% (global Average: 23%)
• Proportion of Underweight children - 30% (global Average: 13%)
• Proportion of wasted children - 20%
Obesity in India • India is ranked as the third most obese nation in the world after the US and China
(NFHS - 5) • 24% of women and 23% of men are overweight or obese.
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6
S
3 KEYWORDS
Sr.# KEYWORDS FOR USE IN BODY OF THE ANSWER
1 One Earth, One Health
2 Hidden Hunger (malnutrition), Silent Pandemic (Mental health issues)
3 3As of Holistic Healthcare: Accessible, Available, and Affordable
4 3Ts (Advantage India): Talent, Technology, Track record, Tradition
5 3Is (response to healthcare challenge): Integrated, Inclusive and Institutional response
6 Triple Burden of Malnutrition (Undernutrition, Overnutrition, Nutritional Deficiency)
7 De-linking healthcare from affluence
8 Pharmacy of the world
• Swastha Desh, Samruddh Desh
9 • Sahi Bhojan, Behtar Jeevan
KEYWORDS FOR USE IN WAY FORWARD

10 From “Food security” to "Nutrition security”
• From Illness to Wellness Approach
11 • From Stress to Strength & Negativity to Creativity
7
• From Fragmented approach to ‘Lifecycle’ approach or ‘Continuum of Care’ Approach
12 • From ‘Token to Total’ approach
13 From Swachh Bharat —> to Swasth Bharat —> to Sundar Bharat
14 From 'Suppression & Superstition' to 'Expression of Depression' (Mental Healthcare)
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8
4 CASE STUDIES & BEST PRACTICES
NATIONAL & LOCAL
1. HEALTH
• Arogyakeralam: Ensuring Palliative care and support for the chronically ill & infirm in Kerala
- Home care team consisting of specialists, volunteers, ASHAs etc. regularly visit home, advice and
support.
• Mo Masari, Odisha
- Successful malaria prevention initiative to protect pregnant women and children in malaria
endemic districts.
- Rigorous Information, Education and Communication (IEC) and Behaviour Change Communication
(BCC) campaigns
• SMART Anganwadi: App installed on mobile devices provided to Anganwadi teachers in Gujarat
- Helps monitor and update progress of health status of children and confirm food delivery by supply
workers.
- Eliminates use of multiple registers, improves service delivery, provides real-time information, aids
Anganwadi job through counselling aids, alerts etc.
• KCR Kits, Telangana – Components -
1. Essential commodities like talc, mosquito net, soap, oil, diaper, clothes in a kit
2. Monetary incentives in instalments
- Benefits - Increase in institutional deliveries by 22% and enables underprivileged mothers to spend
more time with kids
• Janata Clinic in Jaipur for urban poor, Rajasthan -
- GIS mapping to identify urban poor clusters
- Act as PHC with facilities like vaccination, primary healthcare, free primary diagnostics test,
medicines ➔ Reduce out of pocket expenditure for health
• Health ATM at railway stations - Features -
- Device to measure non-invasive nutritional parameters like BMI, hydration level, blood pressure,
sugar at cheap price ➔ give out medical reports instantly
- Source of revenue generation for Railways via Non-Fare Revenue
• Colour coded bedsheets according to weekday for infants in Nashik - to ensure bedsheets have been
washed and sterilised by autoclave.
• Early detection and testing of Breast Cancer, Thrissur, Kerela -
- Wearable device developed to be used for early detection of breast cancer in females
• Suraksha stores – Features
- Public private initiative - consumer goods company in collaboration with government.
- Adopt neighborhood kirana stores and help them with education and certification on safety and
hygiene standard.
9
2. NUTRITION
• Dantewada, Chhattisgarh - administration identified around 250 poorest residents (garbage pickers,
beggars etc.) and ensured steady supply of food packets, take-home ration for Severe Acute
Malnutrition (SAM) children.
• Healthier menus in canteens, Maharashtra - FSSAI banned junk food and food high on fat, salt, sugar
content in school canteens. Nutritious yet tasty and light on pocket food - Ex - vada pav made of wheat
flour buns and stuffed vegetables in patty. Help tackle obesity.
• Open kitchen concept, Gujarat - Kitchens with glass doors/windows in hotels so people can ensure
hygiene standards are being maintained before buying food.
• Amma’s Kitchen, Tamil Nadu – Low cost, high nutrition meals to visitors.
• Mukhyamantri Suposhan Abhiyaan, Chhattisgarh - One hot cooked meal having balanced diet given to
children under age of five, young girls and mothers - roti, rice, dal, green vegetables, boiled egg etc.
- Result: Ensure higher nutrition levels, reduce anaemia, diversified food habits etc
• The Robin Hood Army - A volunteer based, zero-funds NGO that works to get surplus food from
restaurants and the community to serve less fortunate people.
3. SANITATION
• Open Defecation Free Villages in Jharkhand: Creating Nirmal Grams through community participation:
- Aim: to create ODF villages through the construction of a functional toilet in every household.
- Result: It has created a ripple effect as neighbouring villages have emulated the process.
• Avadi Sewage Treatment Plant: Sustainable off-grid sewage treatment in Chennai
- It has not only solved the problem of sewage disposal but also provided a pond of treated water for
fishing, vegetable cultivation and recharging of groundwater.
• Interceptor sewage system, Delhi - divert untreated sewage reaching Yamuna river to treatment plants.
INTERNATIONAL
• Increasing awareness about safe practices to prevent AIDS
- Uganda - Catholic Church promoted use of condoms when large number of people died due to HIV
- Thailand - effective use of social marketing of condoms for safe sex and used humour to diffuse
social taboos about publicly discussing sex.
• Drone- delivered medical supplies: United Parcel Service (UPS) launched drone programme to support
United States (US) hospital transport services with innovative logistics capabilities.
• Integrated Healthcare Information System, Singapore: Implemented National Electronic Health Record
(NEHR) that enables healthcare professionals to access patients' medical information across different
healthcare settings, improving care coordination and reducing duplication of tests.
• Japan's Healthy Japan 21: The program focuses on various aspects of health. It emphasizes dietary
education, encouraging traditional Japanese dietary patterns, which are rich in fruits, vegetables.
• Community-Led Urban Environmental Sanitation (CLUES), Mozambique: The project empowers
communities to manage and maintain their own sanitation facilities, including public toilets and waste
management systems ➔ enhanced access to improved sanitation and reduced open defecation rates.
• Sanergy's (social enterprise) Fresh Life Toilets, Kenya: low-cost & waterless Toilets designed for urban
slum areas. Sanergy franchises the toilets to local entrepreneurs who operate them as small businesses.
- Result: This innovative approach has improved sanitation access and created job opportunities
while addressing waste management challenges.
10
5 FROM THE SPEECHES: PM, PRESIDENT, & VP

FROM THE SPEECHES OF HON’BLE PRIME MINISTER
• One Earth – One Health, should be our principle; and digital health, universal health coverage should be
our goal.
• “Our vision is not restricted to just humans. It extends to our whole ecosystem. From plants to animals,
from soil to rivers, when everything around us is healthy, we can be healthy.
• The once-in-a-century pandemic reminded the world of a number of truths. It showed us that in a deeply
connected world, borders cannot stop threats in a deeply connected world.
• “True progress is people-centric. No matter how many advances are made in medical science, access
must be assured to the last person at the last mile”.
• “Yoga and meditation are ancient India's gifts to the modern world that have now become global
movements”.
• India’s traditional wisdom says that the absence of illness is not the same as good health. We must not
only be free from illness but also go one step forward towards wellness.
FROM THE SPEECHES OF HON’BLE VICE PRESIDENT

• If we are assured of good health, nothing can stop us.
• Healthcare is not just about medical treatment; it includes an individual’s physical, mental and
emotional well-being, and a community’s social and economic environment.
• Healthcare is one of the most important pillars of nation-building - impacting not just the economy, but
the productivity, well-being and happiness of citizens.
• Healthcare mechanism indicates the Health of the Nation.
• Health and Education are twins that need to be well looked after and pandered for our present and
future being.
• If we have to make this world healthy and happy, we have to subscribe to an ecosystem, of ‘Vasudaiva
Kutumbukam’.
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11
6 CHALLENGES OF INDIA’S PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM
Way Forward: HOLISTIC Healthcare

• H - Healthcare standards organization and better regulatory mechanism,
• O- Out-of-pocket expenditure, outpatient care cover via insurance, Jan Aushadhi Kendra etc
• L - Leverage new sources for funding, infrastructure, personnel, services, research centres etc to ensure
universal coverage
• I - Integrative - Medical Pluralism
• S - Strategic purchasing - Evidence based engagement of private sector
• T - Target micronutrient deficiency, malnutrition through inter-ministerial coordination
• I - Interventions in digital sector: teleconsultation, telemedicine, electronic health record, health profiling.
• C - Comprehensive focus - Promotive, Preventive, Palliative, Curative, Rehabilitative healthcare non-
communicable diseases, ambulatory, mental, geriatric, palliative etc.
WAY FORWARD: INDIA NEEDS FITNESS TO OVERCOME NON COMMUNICABLE DISEASES (Silent Killers)
• F – Fostering healthy habits (refrain from tobacco & alcohol use)
• I - Implementing balanced nutrition (consumption of millets, fruits, vegetables etc.)
• T - Taking care of body and mind (yoga, meditation, adequate sleep), Engaging in physical activity (regular
exercise).
• N - Nurturing quality health care ecosystem – primary, preventive & promotive healthcare services;
Detect & Control Risk factors early and effectively.
• E – Enhanced awareness of healthy behaviour through Engaging communities and appropriate
government Policy, schemes, regulation (Eat healthy & Fit India campaign, sin tax on unhealthy food) etc.
• S - Strengthening Research & innovation to promote sustainable lifestyle
• S - Seeking professional guidance & support to overcome Psycho-Social Stress; Seek Genetic Counselling
12
Present focus of health system is on curative aspect, while the future focus should be on PARAM healthcare -
• P - Preventive, Palliative, Promotive
• A - Ambulatory
• R - Rehabilitative
• A - AYUSH
• M – Mental
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13
7 NUTRITION CHALLENGE IN INDIA

7.1 MALNUTRITION & HIDDEN HUNGER
NEED FOR UNDERSTANDING MALNUTRITION What is Malnutrition – ‘Dual Burden’?
• The core strength of a nation is vested in the • It refers to deficiencies, excesses or
capabilities of its people. Malnutrition inflicts this very imbalances in a person’s intake of energy
human resource base, severely limiting economic and/or nutrient (WHO).
development of a nation. • Malnutrition covers 2 broad groups of
• Malnutrition transcends generations as malnourished conditions:
mothers are more likely to have underweight children.
1. Under nutrition – which includes stunting
• Child’s growth curve is set in first few year of life
(low height for age), wasting (low weight
starting within mother’s womb. Malnutrition at this
for height), underweight (low weight for
stage will have lifelong consequences on health,
age) and micronutrient deficiencies (lack
productivity & life chances.
of important vitamins and minerals
NATURE & DETERMINANTS OF MALNUTRITION 2. Overweight - obesity and diet-related
non- communicable diseases (such as
Malnutrition is not simply a problem of hunger or insufficient heart disease, stroke, diabetes and
calories intake. It encompasses following critical dimensions
cancer).
that often go unnoticed:
• ‘Hidden Hunger’ or micronutrient malnutrition results in deficiency of essential vitamin, minerals,

proteins, iron etc. leading to lifelong consequences on health and productivity - birth deformities,
impaired cognitive and motor function, retarded mental and physical growth, and infants and maternal
deaths.
• Lack of clean drinking water and sanitation increases chances of contracting diseases resulting in low
nutrition absorption and loss of body weight.
• Restricted availability of health care and social care facilities impairs chances of recovery.
• Poverty, low status of women, illiteracy, and lack of awareness results in underweight mothers and
inappropriate infant feeding practices.
• Climate change – impacts food availability and absorption.
• At policy making level - lack of clarity on exact nature of malnutrition, consensus on policy measures,
coordination between different ministries, and political will are major limiting factors.
SUGGESTIVE MEASURES
To effectively meet the malnutrition challenge following needs to be ensured:

• Adequate food availability and access with special focus on vulnerable sections – poor, SC/ST, women,
children, etc.
• Dietary diversification, fortification of commercial foods and bio fortification. Additional Supplements -
vitamin and mineral, iron supplements, Iodine, Double fortified salt (Iron + Iodine) can help vulnerable
populations combat hidden hunger.
• Lifecycle approach and creating a ‘Continuum of healthcare’ ie. Pre Natal, Neonatal, new born, under
5, adolescence, youth, maternity.
14
• Countering indirect causes - improving health facilities, access to clean drinking water and sanitation,
reduction of poverty, Countering climate change, employment generation, women empowerment,
awareness campaigns etc.
• Participation of all stakeholders in program formulation, implementation, and monitoring
(Centre/State govt., Community, Panchayats, Municipalities, schools, NGOs, etc.)
KEY GOVT. INITIATIVES
• Direct measures – Eat Right India Movement; National Nutrition Mission; Poshan Maah; Bio fortification
of wheat, maize, rice, to increase micronutrient components of zinc, iron, & vitamin A; Anaemia Mukt
Bharat (Iron folic tablets to children, women, & adolescent); de-worming; promotion of iodized salt;
R&D on GM crops; midday meal scheme and Food security Act has a micronutrient component for
children (vitamin, iron, protein), promotion of appropriate Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF)
practices etc
• Ancillary measures - RMNCH+A strategy, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, strengthening ICDS,
Swachh Bharat and clean drinking water campaign, Jal Jeevan Mission, expansion of National health
mission to urban areas, NREGA, reforms in PDS, Bharatiya Poshan Krishi Kosh (BPKK) and Poshan Atlas,
National Council on India’s Nutritional Challenge set up (under VC – NITI Aayog) for Policy direction,
Home Based Newborn Care (HBNC) and Home Based Young Child Care (HBYC) programmes; Mission
Indradhanush, Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram etc.
Way forward
More needs to be done in form of investment in human development and R&D, inter ministerial coordination,
effective implementation and monitoring, better health and food delivery systems, awareness generation,
busting myths, people’s participation, private sector involvement, and creating regulatory environment for
“Nutrition security” and not merely “Food security”.
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15
8 NATIONAL DIGITAL HEALTH MISSION (NDHM)
Q) For National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) to successfully act as the backbone for integrated
digital health infrastructure, the government should address the challenges faced by it. Examine.
Parts/Sub Parts of Question
• Introduction
• How NDHM is envisaged as the backbone of Digital health infra (Components of NDHM)
• Benefits of NDHM
• Challenges of NDHM
• Way Forward
In line with its commitment to achieve ‘Quality Health for All’ under the National Health Policy, 2017 and SDG
framework, the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) is being implemented by the government.
NDHM or Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission aims to create an integrated digital health ecosystem that
strengthens the accessibility and equity of health services through following components:
Benefits
• Efficiency & Accountability – It is expected to significantly improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and
transparency of health service delivery. For eg. Accurate information about prices, service levels, digitize
& fasten the insurance claims process etc.
• Expansive choice - To individuals to access both public and private health services, and allopathic &
AYUSH doctors as per their needs.
• Assured & Inclusive Healthcare: Remote Access➔Telemedicine, e pharmacy➔bridge rural urban divide
• Better Access to data
- Individual - ensure appropriate treatment and follow-up ➔ Patient centricity
- Health professionals – Better Diagnosis, advanced analytics
- Policy makers - enabling more informed decision making ➔ Evidence based Policy making
- Researchers – Rich research base
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• Enable better ‘Continuum of care’ – Integrated ecosystem (doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, insurance
companies, government agencies) + comprehensive feedback loop ➔ better preventive healthcare.
• Robust Surveillance - good database for diseases and healthcare monitoring ➔ disease hotspots.
• Other benefits - Enhanced health infrastructure -➔ boost medical tourism
Challenges
• Resource crunch:
- Financial: meagre health budget (1.3% of GDP)
- Poor infrastructure – esp Public health infrastructure, health IT infrastructure etc.
- Shortage of professionals: Healthcare’s already scarce human resources can’t be diverted towards
digitisation. Doctor to population ratio of 1:834 (including Ayush doctors.)
• Technical challenges:
- Data mining: Insurance companies & private health providers may exploit for profiling.
- Data security: centralised collection without any concrete data protection laws raise concerns
• Implementation challenges:
- Digital divide & Digital illiteracy: Still more than 50% of population doesn’t have access to internet.
- Adoption inertia – due to long formed habits & attitudes towards accessing healthcare
- Lack of Coordination: Health being a state subject, it will be hard to operate a central ecosystem.
Way forward - Holistic healthcare reforms, trust building with citizens & private sector, strengthening data
security & privacy norms, awareness campaign, robust backend technology, formalisation of healthcare sector
etc.
India must now make transformational shift from ‘Token to Total Approach’ with integration of all its big tickets
health reforms of Ayushman Bharat, PM-JAY, Ayushman Bharat health Infrastructure Mission, and Digital Health
Mission, to realise its aim of Universal Health Coverage.
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17
9 NATIONAL HEALTH POLICY, 2017
9.1 NEED FOR NEW HEALTH POLICY

• Changing health priorities: although maternal and child mortality have rapidly declined, there is growing
burden on account of non-communicable diseases and some infectious diseases.
• Growing health care industry: The emergence of a robust health care industry estimated to be growing
at double digit.
• Increasing cost: the growing incidences of catastrophic expenditure due to health care costs, which are
presently estimated to be one of the major contributors to poverty.
• Enhanced fiscal capacity: rising economic growth enables enhanced fiscal capacity. Therefore, a new
health policy responsive to these contextual changes is required.
9.2 NATIONAL HEALTH POLICY, 2017: KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• Ensuring Adequate Investment: raising public health NHP, 2017: Key Objectives
expenditure from 1.4% to 2.5% of the GDP, in a time bound
manner, with 2/3rd of it towards primary healthcare. • Progressively achieve Universal Health
Coverage: by assuring
• Universal, easily affordable primary health care - Health
- availability of free, comprehensive
cards to be provided for free diagnostics, free drugs, and primary health care services
free emergency services at all public hospitals. - improved access and affordability
• Comprehensive approach - expand preventive, promotive, of quality secondary and tertiary
curative, palliative and rehabilitative services provided care services
through the public health sector with focus on quality. - significant reduction in out of
• Focus on Preventive and Promotive Health - Perspective of pocket expenditure
health changed from cure to prevention which includes • Reinforce trust in Public Health Care
intervention from early detection of issues to prevention of System: by making it predictable,
chronic diseases. efficient, patient centric, affordable and
• Medical Pluralism – Plethora of options to choose from effective
• Align the growth of private health care
among yoga and AYUSH umbrella of remedies.
sector with public health goals:
• Better regulatory mechanism
through Strategic purchasing by the
- National Healthcare Standard Organization – to Government to fill critical gaps in public
maintain adequate standard in public and private health health facilities
care • Specific Quantitative Goals and
- Medical tribunal–setting up of a separate, empowered Objectives: in alignment with SDG goals
medical tribunal for speedy resolution to address
disputes /complaints regarding standards of care, prices of services, negligence and unfair practices.
- Standard Regulatory framework for laboratories and imaging centers, specialized emerging
services, etc. to ensure quality of care.
• Digital interventions for national health
- National Digital Health Authority to regulate, develop & deploy digital health.
- Promoting tele-consultation, linking tertiary care institution with specialist consultation.
- National Knowledge Network (NKN) for tele-education, tele-consultation and digital library.
- Promotion of electronic Health Record (EHR).
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• Make in India Initiative– Policy

advocates the need to incentivize
local manufacturing to provide
customized indigenous products
for Indian population in the long
run.
• Micronutrient Deficiency– Focus
on reducing micronutrient
malnourishment and systematic
approach to address
heterogeneity in micronutrient
adequacy across regions.
• Private Sector engagement for
strategic purchase for critical gap
filling and for achievement of
health goals.
9.3 NHP, 2017: KEY TARGETS (ALIGNED TO SDG GOALS) [Pls don’t memorise, Only for reference]
INDICATOR TARGET TIMELINE SDG Goal 3: Good Health and Well-
Life Expectancy at birth Increase from 67.5 to 70 By 2025 Being for people
Fertility Rate Reduce to 2.1 By 2025
TARGETS (by 2030)
Infant Mortality Rate Reduce to 28 By 2019
• Reduce the global maternal
Neo-natal mortality Reduce to 16 By 2025
mortality ratio to less than 70 per
Still birth rate Reduce to “single digit” By 2025
100,000 live births
Under Five Mortality Reduce to 23 By 2025
Premature mortality from Reduce by 25% By 2025 • End preventable deaths of
cardiovascular diseases, newborns and children under 5
cancer, diabetes or chronic years of age, reduce neonatal
respiratory diseases mortality to at least as low as 12 per
Elimination of leprosy By 2018 1,000 live births and under-5
Elimination of kala-azar By 2017 mortality to at least as low as 25 per
Elimination of lymphatic By 2017 1,000 live births.
filariasis in endemic pockets • End the epidemics of AIDS,
Blindness Reduce to 0.25 per 1000 By 2025 tuberculosis, malaria and neglected
persons tropical diseases and combat
HIV/AIDS Achieve the global HIV By 2020 hepatitis, water-borne diseases and
target (90:90:90 global other communicable diseases
target).
==========================================================================================
19
10 OTHER IMPORTANT MICRO-DIAGRAMS

10.1 HUNGER – POVERTY NEXUS
20
10.2 HEALTH FOR ALL: UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE
10.3 HEALTH FOR ALL: UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE
21
10.4 PUBLIC HEALTH
10.5 PRIMARY HEALTH
22
10.6 HUMAN RESOURCES IN HEALTH
Implement National Medical Commission Act
=============================================================================================
23

600+ GS Essay: Theme

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600+ GS Essay: Theme

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Target 600+ in GS & ESSAY

Theme : Health & Nutrition

1 PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS (2013-2022)

REPEATED THEMES FROM PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS (PYQs)

OTHER EXPECTED TOPICS FOR 2024/25

• MALNUTRITION & HIDDEN HUNGER

CURRENT TARGET UNDER TARGET UNDER SDG

Food and Nutrition

2 Hidden Hunger (malnutrition), Silent Pandemic (Mental health issues)

3 3As of Holistic Healthcare: Accessible, Available, and Affordable

4 3Ts (Advantage India): Talent, Technology, Track record, Tradition

5 3Is (response to healthcare challenge): Integrated, Inclusive and Institutional response

6 Triple Burden of Malnutrition (Undernutrition, Overnutrition, Nutritional Deficiency)

7 De-linking healthcare from affluence

8 Pharmacy of the world

• Swastha Desh, Samruddh Desh

9 • Sahi Bhojan, Behtar Jeevan

KEYWORDS FOR USE IN WAY FORWARD

• From Illness to Wellness Approach

11 • From Stress to Strength & Negativity to Creativity

• From Fragmented approach to ‘Lifecycle’ approach or ‘Continuum of Care’ Approach

12 • From ‘Token to Total’ approach

13 From Swachh Bharat —> to Swasth Bharat —> to Sundar Bharat

14 From 'Suppression & Superstition' to 'Expression of Depression' (Mental Healthcare)

4 CASE STUDIES & BEST PRACTICES

NATIONAL & LOCAL

5 FROM THE SPEECHES: PM, PRESIDENT, & VP

FROM THE SPEECHES OF HON’BLE VICE PRESIDENT

6 CHALLENGES OF INDIA’S PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM

Way Forward: HOLISTIC Healthcare

7 NUTRITION CHALLENGE IN INDIA

• ‘Hidden Hunger’ or micronutrient malnutrition results in deficiency of essential vitamin, minerals,

To effectively meet the malnutrition challenge following needs to be ensured:

KEY GOVT. INITIATIVES

8 NATIONAL DIGITAL HEALTH MISSION (NDHM)

9 NATIONAL HEALTH POLICY, 2017

9.1 NEED FOR NEW HEALTH POLICY

9.2 NATIONAL HEALTH POLICY, 2017: KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• Make in India Initiative– Policy

10 OTHER IMPORTANT MICRO-DIAGRAMS

10.2 HEALTH FOR ALL: UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE

10.3 HEALTH FOR ALL: UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE

10.4 PUBLIC HEALTH

10.5 PRIMARY HEALTH

10.6 HUMAN RESOURCES IN HEALTH

Implement National Medical Commission Act

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