In a health index report that has brought cheer to the Health department, Tamil Nadu is ranked among the top three States (in the ‘Largest States’ category) for overall health outcomes. The State has come third, after Kerala and Punjab.
The report, titled “Healthy States, Progressive India”and released on Friday, ranks States and Union Territories on their year-on-year incremental change in health outcomes and overall performance with respect to one another.
In Tamil Nadu, the health index reveals that the neonatal mortality rate is 14, lower than that of many other States, and that the under-5 mortality has dropped from 21 in 2014 to 20 in 2015.
The total case notification rate of tuberculosis has gone up as has the treatment success rate of new TB cases. It recorded higher number of people living with HIV/AIDS receiving anti-retroviral therapy.
Areas of concern
More government health facilities received accreditation: the number went up from 2 to 12 of district and sub-district hospitals.
There was a slight dip in the vacancy positions of some healthcare personnel. However, the health index revealed some areas of concern: the number of infants born with low birth weight has gone up in the period analysed, and the sex ratio has dipped. Vacancies in healthcare positions remain and there was a slight decrease in the number of children immunised.
Health Secretary J. Radhakrishnan said that while the State was happy with the report, it would strive to continue to improve its outcomes. He pointed out that the data analysed was from 2014-15 to 2015-16.
“We have improved our outcomes in 2016-17. For instance, our neonatal mortality rate has dropped from 14 to 12. The number of babies born with low birth weight has also decreased. Our sex ratio is now around 920,” he said.
In the coming years, Mr. Radhakrishnan said the focus would be on coordinating with the Social Welfare department to improve nutrition and to tackle sex selective abortion in certain pockets of the State that are “challenging”.
“The government is working proactively on this,” he said. Vacancies were decreasing with recruitment through the Medical Services Recruitment Board, he added.
“The Health Department will be studying the report in detail and taking steps to improve. We will work towards improvement so that the State’s target of achieving the levels developed countries are at is met by 2023.”
