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The millennium development goals (MDGs) adopted during the millennium summit in 2000 gave an opportunity to improve the health and overall development. The MDG framework had 8 goals, 21 targets, and 60 indicators. Of these, three are directly related to health and have other interrelated goals and targets that influence health. The year 1990 is baseline, and the targets are to be reached by 2015. India's progress towards health related MDGs is lagging in some areas, and more attention is needed to states and districts where the indicators are poor. The proportion of underweight children <3 years is around 40%. The under-five and infant mortality rate is 49 and 40/1000 live births in 2013, respectively. The country lags behind the maternal mortality ratio target of 109/100,000 live births. Regarding HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, trend reversal had been achieved while providing basic sanitation facilities remains a big challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health and illness were interpreted in a cosmological and anthropological prospective. Medicine was dominated by magical and religious beliefs which were an integral part of ancient cultural and civilization. Over the years development planning in India has focused on reducing the burden of illness and mortality among women and children. A large number of development and public health programmes such as the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) have been geared towards this, since a long time. India is committed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, particularly with respect to maternal and child health. Awareness generation is a major responsibility and fundamental importance, to ensure utilization of various healthcare programmes implemented by Government. The Indian healthcare sector can be viewed as a glass half empty or a glass half full. In this research paper author focuses on The Status of health care services in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under National TB/HIV framework, all TB patients are referred by Revised National Tuberculosis Programme (RNTCP) service providers to Integrated Counseling and Testing Centers (ICTCs) for voluntary counseling and testing (C&T) and ICTC “TB-suspects” are referred to RNTCP facilities for TB diagnosis and treatment. HIV–TB coinfected patients are then referred to Anti Retroviral Treatment (ART) center for initiation of ART between two weeks and two months of initiating TB treatment. During the third phase of National AIDS Control Programme (NACP-III, April 2007–April 2012), 30749/130503 (23.6%) TB/HIV cross-referrals were lost to follow up (LTFU) and there was missed opportunity for 940/1884 (49.9%) HIV–TB coinfected patients for initiation of ART during TB treatment. This motivated Delhi State AIDS Control Society (DSACS) and State TB Cell (STC) to revise existing cross-referral strategy. The new strategy was launched in May 2012, wherein HIV–TB coinfected and HIV-positive “TB-suspects” were referred to nearest ART center for HIV care and investigations of TB at Chest Clinic/Designated Microscopy Centre (DMC) located within the same hospital instead of referral to area RNTCP facility. Outcome of the strategy was evaluated in March 2013. The new HIV–TB cross-referral strategy in Delhi has shown advantage over national strategy: first, improved retention of coinfected clients in HIV care; second, ensured timely initiation of TB-treatment and ART; and third, significantly improved survival of HIV–TB coinfected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aim: Despite major advances in maternal and child health care initiatives in India, the Millennium Development Goal (MDG)-4 targeting a two-third reduction in under-five mortality appears to be unattainable by 2015. This paper assesses India’s feasibility towards averting infant (0–11 months) and child (0–4 years) mortality by 2015 across regions and major states. Subjects and methods: Using statewise estimates on infant mortality rate (IMR) during 1990–2009 and child mortality rate (CMR) during 1990–2008 from the Sample Registration System of India, this paper estimates average annual rate of reduction (AARR) in IMR and CMR across regions and major states. The estimates are also provided for the shortfall in IMR and CMR from the projected estimates of 2015 and the required AARR for the successive years up to 2015. Results: Estimated figures suggest that India has experienced a substantial decline in the IMR and CMR since 1990. However, an AARR of around 10 and 8 % is required for reducing infant (during 2010–2015) and child mortality (during 2009–2015), respectively, in order to achieve a two-third reduction in the IMR and CMR from the level of 1990. Conclusion: Although the MDG-4 target is based on U5MR in totality, this study draws attention towards the progress in major components of the U5MR separately, and advocates for disaggregation of MDG target at national level in terms of focus (region-specific) towards achieving required reduction in separate components of under-five mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measles continues to be a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in India. Recent studies estimate that 80,000 Indian children die each year due to measles and its complications, amounting to 4% of under-5 deaths. Immunization against measles directly contributes to the reduction of under-five child mortality and hence to the achievement of Millennium Development Goal 4 (MDG 4). The live attenuated measles vaccines are safe, effective and provide long-lasting protection. The key strategies being followed globally for measles mortality reduction are high coverage of measles first dose, sensitive laboratory supported surveillance, appropriate case management, and providing second dose of measles vaccine. Prior to 2010, India was the only country in the world that had not introduced a second dose of measles vaccine in its National immunization program. We herein discuss the current status of measles vaccination along with the rationale and challenges of providing a second opportunity for measles vaccination, and the principles of measles catch-up campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]