India's 2017 Health Policy Aims for Universal Coverage and Bold Reforms

India’s National Health Policy 2017 (NHP 2017) set ambitious targets to transform the country’s healthcare system. The policy aimed for universal health coverage while addressing major health challenges, from maternal and infant mortality to financial burdens on families. The policy’s core objective was to ensure healthcare access for all citizens. It expanded services to cover non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health, areas previously overlooked in national planning.

To reduce financial strain, NHP 2017 sought to cut out-of-pocket health spending from 65% to below 30% of total expenses. It also proposed raising public health funding to 5% of GDP by 2025. The high cost of medical care, which pushed many poor families into debt, led to the creation of Ayushman Bharat, a flagship health insurance scheme. Key health targets included increasing life expectancy from 67.5 to 70 years by 2025. The policy also aimed to lower the maternal mortality rate to under 100 per lakh live births and the infant mortality rate to 16. Another goal was reducing the total fertility rate to 1 at both national and sub-national levels. The policy set deadlines for eliminating diseases like tuberculosis, leprosy, kala-azar, and lymphatic filariasis in high-risk regions by 2025. Additionally, it proposed a digital health framework, later implemented as the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).

NHP 2017 laid out clear benchmarks for improving public health and financial protection. Its targets included longer life expectancy, lower mortality rates, and better disease control. The policy also paved the way for major initiatives like Ayushman Bharat and a nationwide digital health system.