Missing the bus on Health-related MDGs in India: Progress of National Rural Health Mission

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were adopted in September 2001 by 147 countries including India. Out of 8 MDGs, 3 MDGs were directly related to the health and under the framework of MDGs, Government of India set ambitious targets for reduction in maternal and child mortality by 2015. In 2005, Government of India launched, National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) to strengthen the health infrastructure & services in rural areas, particularly in 18 high priority states. NRHM was expected to make significant contribution in achievement of MDGs. Though NRHM made significant contribution in strengthening of health infrastructure in rural areas of focused states, however the key targets in-terms of reduction in MMR, IMR and TFR were not achieved.In 2015, world has accepted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to address global development challenges and facilitate sustainable development across the countries. However, in order to ensure that the health-related SDGs doesn’t meet the same fate as that of MDGs in the country, it is vital that lessons are learnt from the non-achievement of health related MDG goals and are incorporated in the relevant policies & programmes.