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National Health Profile 2018
Health Status Indicators
Highlights
Health indicators measure different aspects of health. Each indicator is like a piece of a puzzle contributing
to an overall picture. When indicators are tracked over time, they allow us to see how the health of population is
changing. This chapter provides a broad overview on the incidence and prevalence of common communicable and
non-communicable diseases, morbidity & associated mortality, health risks and performance of related national
health programmes in the country. It also provides an overview of reproductive and child health in the country
as well as information about National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular
Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS).
Communicable Diseases
Malaria has been a problem in India for centuries. At one time a rural disease, diversified under
the pressure of developments into various ecotypes. These ecotypes have been identified as forest
malaria, urban malaria, rural malaria, industrial malaria, border malaria and migration malaria; the
latter cutting across boundaries of various epidemiological types. In 2017, maximum number of
Malaria cases have been reported in Odisha (3,52,140 cases) and maximum number of deaths have
been reported in West Bengal (29 deaths). The overall prevalence of the disease has diminished in
2012 and 2013 however there is a slight increase in 2014 and again started decreasing from 2015.
[Table No. 3.1.1]
Kala-azar is the second largest parasitic killer in the world. In India Leishmania donovani is the only
parasite that causes this disease. Bihar accounts for most of the cases by Kala-azar. Out of the overall
cases reported in 2017, 72% of the cases have been reported in Bihar.[Table No. 3.1.3]
Dengue and Chikungunya transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, are a cause of great concern to public
health in India. Every year, thousands of individuals are affected and contribute to the burden of
health care. Dengue outbreaks have continued since the 1950s but severity of disease has increased
in the last two decades. There has been considerable decrease in the number of swine flu cases/
deaths in the year 2014 as compared with 2012 & 2013. However, the number of cases and deaths
has been drastically increased in the year 2015. In 2016, the cases have been decreased to 1786 and
again increased to 38811 in 2017[Table No. 3.1.28]. Similarly, total of 63,679 cases of Chikungunya
were reported in 2017 as compared with 64,057 cases in 2016.[Table 3.1.2]
Total number of cases and deaths due to Chicken Pox were 74,035 and 92 respectively in 2017. Kerala
has accounted for maximum number of cases (30,941) and West Bengal has accounted for maximum
number of Deaths (53) due to Chicken Pox in 2017. [Table No.3.1.29 (B)].
Total number of Cases and Deaths due to Encephalitis were 12,485 and 626 in India during 2017
respectively. Assam has reported maximum numbers of Cases (5525) and Odisha has reported
maximum number of deaths (246). [Table No. 3.1.30(B)].
Total number of Cases and Deaths due to Viral Meningitis were 7,559 and 121 respectively in 2017.
Andhra Pradesh accounted for maximum number of Cases (1493) and maximum number of Deaths
(33). [Table No. 3.1.31 (B)]
Since the reported Data is by and large from Government health facilities, it may have limitations in
terms of its completeness as Private Medical & Health Care Institution still need to strengthen their
reporting to their respective Government Health units.