New Delhi: India has made significant strides in strengthening public and preventive healthcare over the last decade, translating into improved human capital and economic productivity, as per the Economic Survey 2026.
Under the Ayushman Bharat programme, 1.82 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) have been made operational, with over 1.51 lakh offering an expanded range of services. These facilities have recorded a cumulative footfall of over 506 crore, conducted 42.66 crore teleconsultations and organised 6.72 crore wellness sessions, including yoga.
The Survey said nearly 3.78 lakh health human resources have been deployed across states, including doctors, specialists, nurses, ANMs, paramedics, public health managers and AYUSH practitioners, strengthening frontline service delivery.
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) has generated 42.78 crore health cards so far, enabling nearly 11 crore hospital admissions. Women account for 49 per cent of beneficiaries, while around six crore senior citizens are covered under the scheme.
Healthcare infrastructure creation under the Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission has included over 9,500 building-less sub-centre health and wellness centres, 5,456 urban AAMs, 2,151 block public health units, 744 integrated public health laboratories and 621 critical care blocks.
The Survey underscored that sustained investments in healthcare have led to notable improvements in life expectancy, fertility rates, and maternal and child health outcomes. Since 1990, India has reduced its maternal mortality rate (MMR) by 86 per cent—far exceeding the global average decline of 48 per cent. The under-five mortality rate (U5MR) declined by 78 per cent, compared with a global reduction of 61 per cent, while neonatal mortality fell by 70 per cent during 1990–2023, surpassing the global decline of 54 per cent.
The infant mortality rate (IMR) dropped by over 37 per cent in the past decade, falling from 40 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2013 to 25 in 2023. Several states, including Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh, have halved their IMR during this period. Kerala, Manipur, Sikkim and Goa now report single-digit IMRs, comparable to developed nations, reflecting improvements in neonatal care, maternal health services and overall socio-economic conditions.
The Survey reported strong progress under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme, with TB incidence declining by 21 per cent between 2015 and 2024. TB mortality fell by 25 per cent, while treatment coverage rose sharply from 53 per cent to 92 per cent.
The Universal Immunisation Programme, supported by the U-WIN digital platform, has registered over 14.3 crore beneficiaries, recorded 1.62 crore deliveries and documented nearly 61 crore vaccine doses, enabling ‘anytime, anywhere’ access to immunisation services.
Under the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme, the government has prevented out-of-pocket expenditure of over ₹9,700 crore, providing dialysis services to over 30 lakh patients through nearly 390 lakh haemodialysis sessions.
The Survey also highlighted the Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan, under which over 1.51 crore women were screened for anaemia across more than 19 lakh camps held between September 17 and October 2, 2025, reinforcing the focus on women-centric preventive healthcare.
