Kerala tops NITI Aayog’s Health Performance Index

Kerala remained the best-performing state in the health indicators for a fourth consecutive time, according to an index released on Monday, which also ranked Uttar Pradesh at the bottom of the rankings although the state also saw the most progress.

Key Highlights

• Among large states, Kerala and Tamil Nadu topped the list, and Telangana emerged strong on the third position in health outcomes and incremental performance. 
• The state saw an improvement from the 4th position the last time — indicating that it has made strides in improving its health infrastructure by ensuring universal immunisation of children, setting up fully functional First Referral Units (FRUs) and all Primary Health Centres (PHCs) among others.

• Maharashtra retained its fifth spot, and Andhra Pradesh fourth, down from 3rd in the last index. UP was ranked the lowest at 19, but it has seen major improvements in 33 health indicators in recent years.
• Like UP, Assam too was placed at the bottom of the list but it has also seen improvements in health indices. It moved up from 15th to the 12th position in the latest report, with progress in criteria such as mortality rate and maternal mortality rate.
• Among small states, Mizoram emerged as the best performer and Nagaland the worst.

• Delhi and Jammu & Kashmir were ranked the lowest among Union Territories in overall performance, but topped the list in incremental performance. Both have improved by one spot from the last edition of the survey.

• The report also pointed out that among the large states, the gap between the best and the worst performers declined this year as compared to the 2018-19 index.

SOURCE: The New Indian Express

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