World Health Day: India's Health Report Is 'Unhealthy'

As the world gears to celebrate the World Health Day, India's health status is very concerning. Our perception of, 'ignorance is bliss', has led us to a very unpleasant state and it's not healthy.

On October 2015, the last Indian Health Report, focusing on Nutrition, was released by Union Health Minister, J.P. Nadda. The report clearly indicates how India still suffers from Malnutrition. The report was prepared to transform Nutrition Consortium. In spite of making several attempts in the last few years, India still struggles to tackle nutrition.

Women Health is very important for a developing country like India, but it also caters the same unfortunate tale of poor health. 55 per cent of Indian Women between ages of 15-49 have anaemia or low blood count. Early marriage is the result of low infant nutrition in India. 30 percent of women, aged 20-24, had been married before the age of 18.

India only meets 2 of the 8 targets set by the World Health Organization. World Health report of 2016 released by the World Health Organization, shows India is one of the worst performing regions in health after Africa- in terms of Gross National Income per capital, India holds the bottom slots for most Health-related parameters. Among the SEAR nations, India ranks worst for reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health intervention.

Malnutrition is still prevalent in the country, as only 50.5 per cent infants of 6-8 months receive solid, semi-solid and soft food. Around 69.5 per cent of children between the age group of 6 months to 3 years suffer from anaemia. India's situation of malnutrition among children may pose bigger threats in health care for the country in the future.

44.7% of girls between ages 15-18 have low Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR). This is the worst figure when compared to other fast growing economies. Vaccination has not reached its target in India as only 65.3 per cent of children of 12-23 months have received full immunisation.

The theme of this year's World Health Day is depression relating to mental health, the country's mental health is also very alarming. India accounts for 15 per cent of Global Mental, Neurological and Substance Use disorders in the World. According to recent reports on adolescent health cites suicide as the leading cause of death among the youngsters between the age group of 10-24 in the country. This is disturbing as 30% of the population falls within this group.

The quality of Healthcare is in serious jeopardy due to lack of regulation as well as well-trained medical professionals. The biggest reason for the slow improvement in Health parameters in the country is the Out of Pocket (OOP), Health expenditure by Indian Households. 86 per cent of private is OOP; other private expenditure also includes insurance and service payments by corporations. Health Insurance should be taken more seriously by the government to improve the quality of healthcare by the government.

The Indian health story needs a re-write, and the Health sector should be one of the major concerns for the government, as to be the fastest growing economy, you need people who are mentally and physically fit.