Average lifespan to be raised to 85 by 2047: AP Health Minister

Health, Family Welfare and Medical Education Minister Satya Kumar Yadav on Tuesday said Andhra Pradesh as per vision adopted for 2047 is firm in bringing about significant improvement in health index so as to ensure better economy through increase in productivity.

He was addressing a meeting organised here to celebrate Doctor's Day. Later he felicitated eminent doctors at a meeting organised by Dr. NTR University of Health.

Stating that a lot has to be done for further improving the quality of healthcare, he said India spends about 20% of its GDP on health while the USA earmarks 20%. The US example reveals the relationship between health and economy as mutually reinforcing.

Yadav said their target as per the Vision 2047 is to increase average life span from the present 71 years to over 77 by 2029 and to 85 by 2047. Maternal Mortality Ratio is to be reduced from the present 45 to less than 25 by 2029 and under five by 2047. Infant Mortality Rate is to be reduced from 24 to under 14 and below two during these periods. Pregnant women with anemia shall be brought down from 34% now to less than 25 and four by these two years.

The Minister said out of pocket expenditure for health shall be reduced from the present high of 64% now to below 15% and finally to below 5% by 2047. Dwelling on the efforts of the NDA government during the just concluded first year in office in the State, he said "we have tried to put on rails the public healthcare system derailed during the earlier five years of YSRCP rule. The last government went high on promises and low on delivery. Working environment lacked accountability and responsibility. Expenditure on setting up new

government colleges, improvement of health infrastructure was dismally low. Diversion of funds meant for health programmes was the order of the day due to which implementation of health schemes suffered badly."

Yadav said: "Our government has endeavoured to bring order. We have succeeded in bringing in some change in the system. Attendance of doctors and medical staff, OP and IP services offered by government hospitals have significantly improved. We brought a sense of discipline, accountability and responsibility in the system."