World Health Day 2025: Date, history, theme and why it matters

NEW DELHI: On World Health Day 2025, India reaffirms its commitment to strengthening healthcare through flagship initiatives like Ayushman Bharat and the National Health Mission. These efforts have led to notable advancements in maternal and child health, expanded digital healthcare services, and improved public health infrastructure across the country.

Tracing World Health Day
The World Health Organisation convened its First World Health Assembly in 1948.
World Health Day, marked each year on April 7, highlights the significance of worldwide healthcare while encouraging united efforts to tackle urgent medical concerns.
Established by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1950, this observance brings together national authorities, organisations, and local populations to focus on essential health objectives annually.
This year's theme is "Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures".
India's health outcomes show improvement
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has achieved significant progress in enhancing India's public health outcomes through several crucial initiatives and programmes, as stated in an official communication. The National Health Mission (NHM) has been instrumental in achieving these improvements.
The official communication highlighted that India's MMR (Maternal Mortality Ratio) saw a reduction of 33 points, decreasing from 130 (2014-16) to 97 (2018-20) per 1,00,000 live births.
"Over the last 30 years (1990-2020), MMR declined by 83% in India," the release stated.
It also highlighted that IMR (Infant Mortality Rate) dropped from 39 (2014) to 28 (2020) per 1,000 live births, NMR(Neonatal Mortality Rate) reduced from 26 (2014) to 20 (2020) per 1,000 live births and U5MR(Under-5 Mortality Rate) declined from 45 (2014) to 32 (2020) per 1,000 live births.
PM Modi highlights healthcare priorities
On World Health Day, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a message on X platform, affirming the government's dedication to fostering global health. He emphasised that the central administration remains steadfast in its focus on healthcare whilst continuing investments across various dimensions of public wellness.

"On World Health Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to building a healthier world. Our Government will keep focusing on healthcare and invest in different aspects of people's well-being. Good health is the foundation of every thriving society!" PM Modi posted on X.