From public health to global health power: How India’s National Health Mission is reshaping healthcare

New Delhi: India’s healthcare landscape has undergone a sweeping transformation over the past decade, with the National Health Mission (NHM) emerging as a cornerstone of the country’s public health success story. From record-breaking vaccination drives and sharp declines in maternal and child mortality to artificial intelligence-powered diagnostics and global pharmaceutical leadership, India is steadily positioning itself as both a healthcare innovator and the “Pharmacy of the World.”

Public Health Gains: Surpassing Global Benchmarks

India’s health indicators show measurable, large-scale progress—often outpacing global averages.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the country administered over 2.2 billion vaccine doses, executing one of the world’s largest immunisation campaigns. Indigenous vaccines like Covaxin and Covishield underscored India’s research and manufacturing capabilities.

In maternal health, the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has declined by 83% since 1990, significantly exceeding the global reduction of 45%. Child survival has also improved dramatically, with the Under-5 Mortality Rate dropping by 75%, compared to the global average decline of 60%.

India’s fight against tuberculosis has gained momentum. TB incidence has fallen from 237 per 100,000 population in 2015 to 195 in 2023, supported by over 940,000 TB patients through 156,000 Ni-kshay Mitra volunteers under the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.

Vaccination efforts under Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 5.0 achieved 97.98% measles-rubella coverage, with more than 347.7 million children vaccinated. In tribal regions, the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission has screened over 26.1 million individuals, while government-supported dialysis programmes have provided services to over 220,000 patients, conducting more than 2.5 million hemodialysis sessions as of June 30, 2024.

Additionally, tobacco control measures have resulted in a 17.3% reduction in tobacco use over the past decade—a critical public health milestone.

Artificial Intelligence: Bridging Gaps in Healthcare Delivery

Between 2022 and 2025, India began integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into mainstream public health systems. In February 2026, at the AI Summit in New Delhi, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the Strategy for AI in Healthcare for India (SAHI)—the first such comprehensive framework in the South-East Asian region.

AI has been embedded into the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) and several national programmes:

Eka Doc, an ABDM-enabled clinic management system, has triaged over 1 million patients and summarised 1.7 million medical records, improving clinical efficiency.

Sunoh.AI supports doctors with AI-powered voice-based e-prescriptions, enabling hundreds of thousands of digital prescriptions.

In tuberculosis care, a predictive analytics tool identifying high-risk patients has led to a 27% decline in adverse treatment outcomes after nationwide rollout.

MadhuNetrAI, launched in December 2025, enables AI-based diabetic retinopathy screening. Already active in 38 facilities, it has benefited 7,100 patients, marking India’s first AI-driven community eye screening initiative.

The government’s AI strategy emphasises innovation alongside ethical safeguards, aiming to close specialist gaps and scale preventive care.

Affordable Medicines: Expanding Access Nationwide

Healthcare affordability remains a major pillar of reform. Under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), quality generic medicines are now available at 17,990 Janaushadhi Kendras across India.

With over 2,000 medicines and 315 surgical products sold at 50–90% lower prices than market rates, the scheme has helped beneficiaries save nearly ₹30,000 crore over the past decade.

Complementing this initiative is the AMRIT Pharmacy network, focused on tertiary care support. Currently operating 255 outlets, with plans to expand to 500, AMRIT provides access to branded and generic medicines, surgical items, and high-end implants at affordable prices.

Pharmacy of the World: India’s Global Footprint

India’s pharmaceutical industry, the third largest globally by volume, supplies 20% of the world’s generic medicines and exports to around 200 countries and territories.

The country provides over 70% of global anti-retroviral medicines, strengthening health security for the Global South. India also supplies 55–60% of UNICEF’s vaccines, meeting large shares of global demand for DPT, BCG, and measles vaccines.

In October 2024, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) met the World Health Organization’s indicators for a functional vaccine regulatory system, reinforcing global trust in India’s pharmaceutical standards.

The biotechnology sector has witnessed a 13-fold expansion, growing from $10 billion in 2014 to $165.7 billion in 2024, with projections of $300 billion by 2030.

The Union Budget 2026–27 introduced Biopharma SHAKTI, aimed at strengthening India’s biologics and biosimilars ecosystem, expanding domestic manufacturing, building over 1,000 accredited clinical trial sites, and upgrading regulatory capacity. The establishment of three new NIPERs and upgrades to seven existing ones will bolster skilled manpower in biopharma.

Meanwhile, the National Biopharma Mission (i3) has supported 101 projects involving over 150 organisations, generating more than 1,000 jobs. Notable breakthroughs include:

India’s first indigenous MRI scanner at a fraction of the imported costs

The first Indian biosimilar of Liraglutide for Type 2 diabetes

The world’s first DNA-based COVID-19 vaccine, ZyCoV-D

Expanding Health Education Infrastructure

To sustain growth, India has significantly expanded medical education. Over the past 11 years:

The number of AIIMS institutions has increased to 23, including the first in the Northeast (Assam).

The country now has 2,045 medical colleges, including allopathy, dental, and AYUSH institutions.

MBBS seats have grown by 130%, from 51,348 to 118,190.

Postgraduate seats have increased by 138%, from 31,185 to 74,306.

This expansion aims to address doctor shortages and support India’s expanding healthcare ecosystem.

Towards Viksit Bharat 2047

India’s healthcare transformation reflects a broader structural shift—from combating endemic diseases to emerging as a global hub for affordable, technology-driven care. With over 180,000 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and more than 860 million digital health IDs under the world’s largest digital health ecosystem, the country is building infrastructure that combines scale with inclusivity.

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As India moves toward its 2047 vision of Viksit Bharat, its healthcare strategy—anchored in public health gains, AI innovation, pharmaceutical leadership, and educational expansion—positions it as a model for health equity in the developing world.

The story of India’s National Health Mission is no longer just about domestic reform. It is increasingly about global impact.