What are the efforts and achievements …

Efforts made by the Government in the field of health:
(i) The life expectancy at birth in India has more than doubled in the last fifty years. It has reached nearly 62 years.
(ii) In the plan-period, the mortality rate declined to nearly 9 per thousand and infant mortality has come down to 70 per thousand live births. Similarly maternal mortality rate has also declined.
(iii) Efforts have been made to overcome the nutritional problems in the country and considerable progress has been achieved.
(iv) Smallpox has been completely eradicated and malaria, T.B., leprosy, filaria, etc. have also been controlled to a large extent.
(v) There has been a large increase in the number of hospitals, doctors, nurses and compounders and the extension of health facilities in the country.
(vi) Special attention is being given to the extension ’ of health facilities in the rural areas and some progress has also been made in this direction.
Inspite of this progress, the health facilities in India are quite low keeping in view the requirements of the country and their standard is also very low. Speedy and effective measures are required for its improvement.