National Health Policy of India: Goals, Key Features & Objectives (2025 Guide)
The National Health Policy (NHP) of the India is a vital framework for the healthcare system in India. It has served as a valuable roadmap for how health services are organized, funded, and improved — assuring that every Indian has access to quality and affordable care.
The Government of India has published various forms of the National Health Policy (the Policy) in 1983, 2002, and now in 2017 with the same intent to update priorities and strategies to respond to changing health needs of the country.
⸻
🧠 What Is National Health Policy?
The National Health Policy is an action plan by the Government of India to achieve universal access to quality health care – prevention, promotion, curative, and rehabilitative health care.
purposes to improve the health care system – infrastructure, human resource needs, financing, innovations, and digitalization of health care services.
🎯 Objectives & Goals of India’s National Health Policy
The primary objectives of the National Health Policy in India are:
• 🩺 Universal health coverage (UHC): Providing affordable and accessible healthcare to all individuals.
• 📈 Health indicators: Focusing on lowering infant & maternal mortality as well as increasing life expectancy.
• 🧍♀️ Primary care: Provider patient-oriented, preventive and primary care.
• 💰 Public expenditure on health: Growing government spending (especially in health infrastructure).
• 🤝 Private-public partnerships: Introducing the private sector in health provision.
⸻
🧭 Transition of the National Health Policy
🏛 1️⃣ National Health Policy 1983
• The first formal Health Policy formed nationwide.
• Introduced the goal of ‘Health for All by 2000 A.D.’
• Emphasis on basic health and development of rural health infrastructure.
🏗 2️⃣ National Health Policy 2002
• Emphasis on disease prevention as well as decentralized planning.
• Promotion of public-private partnerships.
• Mortality rates and immunization were major goals.
🌐 3️⃣ National Health Policy 2017
• Recommended universal access to quality health services.
• Stated to increase public health expenditures to 2.5% of GDP by 2025.
• Advent of digital health initiatives (e.g., Ayushman Bharat program, preventive care).
• Supported goals in reducing unavoidable expenditure on citizens.
🧱 Key Components of the National Health Policy
1. 🏥 Strengthen Primary Health Care: Set up Health & Wellness Centres in the entire country.
2. 👩⚕️ Human Resource Development: Train doctors, nurses and allied health professionals.
3. 💰 Financial Strengthening: Increase the Government’s share in the health sector and in health insurance.
4. 🧪 Promoting a Culture of Research and Innovation: Facilitate innovation of new medical technologies.
5. 🌿 Rapport with AYUSH: Support traditional systems of medicine such as Ayurveda and Yoga.
6. 🌍 Public Health Orientation: Health improvement should encompass improvements in sanitation, nutrition, and access to clean drinking water.
7. 🖥 Digital Health: Support the use of telemedicine, electronic medical records, and e-health services.
⸻
🎯 Goals of the National Health Policy (By 2025)
• 🍼 Decrease the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) to less than 25 per 1,000 live births
• 🤰 Decrease the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) to less than 100 per 100,000 live births
• 💉 Achieve coverage of 95% for full immunization
• 🌡 Decrease premature deaths from non-communicable diseases by 25%
• 🧓 Raise Life Expectancy to 70 years.
FAQs on National Health Policy
It is a government policy created to support equity, access, affordability, and quality of care for everyone in India.
India's National Health Policy hopes to achieve universal coverage, strengthen the health system, and improve health outcomes.
A framework of guidance and recommendations published by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to help inform and guide the development of the health system in India.
Strengthening of primary healthcare; reforms in financing, human resources, digital health, AYUSH, prevention, and innovation.
Some of the major goals of the National Policy on Health include: decreasing mortality; increasing access; promoting life expectancy, and reducing out-of-pocket expenditures.What is the National Health Policy?
What is the goal of India's National Health Policy?
What is India's National Policy on Health?
What is in the National Health Policy?
What are the goals of India's National Policy on Health?
India’s National Health Policy has evolved considerably since its first version in 1983. From rural health needs in the 1983 document to digital innovation, financing mechanisms and finally, the universal access goals of the 2017 policy, each policy iteration has built upon the previous policy with new goals and advances.
The 2017 policy lays out ambitious goals intended to be achieved by 2025, geared toward improving health services in the areas of affordability, accessibility and quality.
In India’s future, the effective implementation and achievement of these goals will be fairly important in creating improved health for All Indians.
Also Read: 5 Best Health Insurances in India 2025
Best Senior Citizen Health Insurance Plans in India (2025) | Compare Top Policies
IRDAI Health Insurance Rules 2025- explained in easy and simple way