Yet another testimony to the exceptional performance of the Telangana government led by CM K Chandrashekar Rao. Telangana is among the top three Indian states in the NITI Aayog’s fifth health index. This index developed for the year 2020-21 showcases the remarkable achievements of the state in the health and medical welfare services during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite facing hindrances from the hostile central government, the state is at the top position in incremental performance for the said year, and overall, secured the third position. Though this report, jointly prepared by the World Bank, NITI Aayog and Union Health Ministry, was supposed to be released in December 2022 but got delayed most likely due to the underperformance of the BJP-ruled states. In the larger states, while Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana occupied the top three spots, Bihar (19), Uttar Pradesh (18), Madhya Pradesh (17) stood at the bottom.
The index was developed based on 25 parameters such as Neonatal Mortality Rate, Infant Mortality Rate, immunization coverage, cardiac care centers, and the ratio of health centers working round-the-clock. The exceptional performance of the state in the index demonstrates CM KCR’s commitment and efforts for a ‘Aarogya Telangana’.