Discuss how NFHS-6 findings reflect the effectiveness of India's primary healthcare strengthening initiatives. (250 words)

Q. Discuss how NFHS-6 findings reflect the effectiveness of India's primary healthcare strengthening initiatives. (15 marks, 250 words)

The National Family Health Survey-6 (2023-24), covering nearly 6.79 lakh households across 715 districts, offers fresh evidence that India's investment in primary and preventive healthcare — through the National Health Mission, Ayushman Bharat and Poshan Abhiyaan — is yielding measurable gains [1][2].

Maternal health and safe motherhood - Institutional deliveries rose from 88.6% to 90.6%, and antenatal care coverage from 92.6% to 95.9%, reflecting stronger last-mile delivery via public facilities [1]. - First-trimester ANC registration (70.0%→76.2%) and ≥4 ANC visits (58.5%→65.2%) signal earlier, sustained contact with the primary health system [1].

Child health and immunization - Full immunization improved from 83.8% to 87.1%, with 95.6% of children vaccinated at public facilities and rotavirus coverage more than doubling — evidence of an effective Universal Immunization Programme [1].

Nutrition and financial protection - Stunting fell by 17% and severe wasting by 32%, though under-nutrition remains a lagging indicator needing convergent action [1]. - Health-financing scheme coverage nearly doubled (41.0%→60.2% of households), reducing catastrophic out-of-pocket expenditure under Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY [1].

Persisting gaps - Full immunization (87.1%) still trails near-universal "any vaccine" coverage, and slower nutrition gains reveal uneven district-level delivery [1].

Overall, NFHS-6 validates that strengthening the primary healthcare tier — through preventive, community-anchored services — drives improved health outcomes. Sustaining this trajectory demands convergence with nutrition and financial-protection schemes, advancing India toward SDG-3 and universal health coverage.

(~250 words)

Sources: 1. Union Health Ministry Releases National Family Health Survey–6 (PIB) — institutional deliveries, ANC, immunization, nutrition and health-insurance figures 2. National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) 2023-24, IIPS — survey coverage (6.79 lakh households, 715 districts) and nodal-agency details