Government Releases NFHS-6 Report: India Records Major Gains in Health, Nutrition and Insurance Coverage
Context
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has published the National Family Health Survey–6 (NFHS-6) for the period 2023–24.
Covering 715 districts across India, the survey provides crucial insights into the country’s progress in maternal and child healthcare, nutrition outcomes, digital inclusion, and financial protection in health.
National Family Health Survey–6 (NFHS-6)
About the Survey
What is NFHS-6?
NFHS-6 is India’s largest nationally representative survey that generates district-level data on population characteristics, health indicators, nutrition status, and family welfare parameters.
The survey was conducted under the guidance of the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai, covering approximately 6.79 lakh households. It serves as a key evidence base for public policy formulation and tracking progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Major Outcomes of NFHS-6
Improvement in Safe Deliveries
Institutional childbirths increased from 88.6% in NFHS-5 to 90.6%, reflecting improved access to skilled birth attendance and safer maternal care.
Enhanced Maternal Health Services
Antenatal care registration reached 95.9%. Early pregnancy registration during the first trimester rose from 70% to 76.2%, while women receiving at least four ANC visits increased to 65.2%.
Fertility Rate Remains Stable
India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) remained unchanged at 2.0, staying below the replacement-level fertility benchmark of 2.1.
Significant Reduction in Child Undernutrition
Child stunting declined from 35.5% to 29.3%, while severe wasting reduced from 7.7% to 5.2%.
Expansion of Full Immunization Coverage
The share of fully immunized children aged 12–23 months increased from 83.8% to 87.1%.
Strong Growth in Rotavirus Vaccination
Rotavirus vaccine coverage witnessed remarkable growth, rising from 36.4% to 85.4%.
Public Sector Leads Vaccination Delivery
More than 95.6% of childhood immunizations were delivered through government health facilities.
Wider Health Insurance Coverage
Health insurance protection expanded significantly, with coverage increasing from 41% to 60.2% of households, supported largely by Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY.
Greater Digital Participation among Women
The proportion of women who have used the internet increased sharply from 33.3% to 64.3%.
Increase in Caesarean Deliveries
C-section births rose from 21.5% to 27.2%, indicating a substantial rise in surgical deliveries.
Key Strengths Highlighted by NFHS-6
Growing Confidence in Public Health Systems
Government healthcare institutions continue to be the primary source of essential health services for most citizens.
Example: Around 95.6% of childhood vaccinations were administered through public health facilities.
Progress in Tackling Chronic Child Malnutrition
Coordinated nutrition interventions have contributed to notable improvements in child growth indicators.
Example: Child stunting declined by nearly 17%, reaching 29.3%.
Improved Financial Security in Healthcare
Expanded insurance coverage has reduced the risk of catastrophic healthcare expenditure for vulnerable families.
Example: Household health insurance coverage increased from 41% to 60.2%.
Advancing Women’s Economic and Digital Inclusion
Government welfare initiatives have enhanced women’s access to banking services and digital platforms.
Example: Women operating their own bank accounts increased to 89%.
Successful Rollout of New Vaccination Programmes
Improved supply chains and digital monitoring systems accelerated vaccine adoption nationwide.
Example: Rotavirus vaccination coverage more than doubled to 85.4%.
Emerging Concerns from NFHS-6
Inadequate Complementary Feeding Practices
A significant proportion of infants do not receive age-appropriate complementary foods during critical growth stages.
Example: About 40.5% of children aged 6–8 months are not provided solid or semi-solid foods alongside breastfeeding.
Remaining Immunization Gaps
Despite high coverage levels, a section of children remains either partially vaccinated or unvaccinated.
Example: 12.9% of children aged 12–23 months are yet to achieve full immunization status.
Rising Burden of Lifestyle Diseases
Non-communicable diseases are emerging as a major public health challenge due to changing lifestyles and dietary habits.
Example: The survey identifies increasing prevalence of chronic diseases as a growing concern.
Expanding Obesity and Overweight Trends
India faces a dual nutritional challenge involving both undernutrition and rising obesity among adults.
Example: The report highlights increasing overweight and obesity levels alongside persistent undernutrition.
Low Adherence to Iron-Folic Acid Supplementation
Many pregnant women fail to complete the recommended course of micronutrient supplementation.
Example: Only 37.8% of pregnant women consumed iron-folic acid tablets for the recommended 180 days.
Policy Priorities Ahead
Leveraging U-WIN for Precision Immunization
Utilize real-time U-WIN data analytics to identify and vaccinate missed children through targeted outreach.
Strengthening POSHAN 2.0 and Saksham Anganwadi Initiatives
Expand nutrition counselling and community engagement to improve complementary feeding practices among infants.
Scaling Preventive Screening for NCDs
Transform Health and Wellness Centres into proactive screening hubs for hypertension, diabetes, and other lifestyle disorders.
Intensifying Maternal Nutrition Awareness Campaigns
Promote sustained iron-folic acid consumption through localized communication and behavioural change interventions.
Universalizing Health Insurance Access
Streamline enrolment under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY to extend health coverage to the remaining uninsured households.
Conclusion
NFHS-6 demonstrates substantial gains in maternal healthcare, child immunization, nutritional outcomes, digital inclusion, and health insurance coverage, reflecting the impact of India’s flagship welfare programmes. Nevertheless, challenges such as inadequate complementary feeding, growing lifestyle diseases, rising obesity, and low compliance with maternal nutrition supplementation require focused policy attention to sustain long-term health gains.
Source : PIB