SDG 3 aims to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.” It is central to sustainable development since health outcomes directly affect productivity, equity, and social progress. For India, achieving SDG 3 is crucial to address maternal and child health, nutrition, disease prevention, and access to affordable healthcare.
• India ranked 99 out of 167 countries in the SDG Index 2025, an improvement from 109 in 2024.
• Progress remains uneven, with rural and tribal areas lagging.
• Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR): 97 per 100,000 live births (target: 70).
• Under-five mortality: 32 per 1,000 live births (target: 25).
• Life expectancy: 70 years (global average: 73.63).
• Out-of-pocket health expenditure: 13% of total consumption (double the SDG target).
• Immunisation coverage: 93.23% (yet to reach universal 100%).
Infrastructure: Limited access to quality healthcare in rural and underserved regions.
Cultural Barriers: Stigma around physical and mental health issues reduces treatment-seeking behaviour.
Awareness: Low knowledge of preventive healthcare and healthy lifestyle practices.
Digital Divide: Inadequate penetration of telemedicine and digital health records in many regions.
Universal Health Insurance: Ensures equitable access and reduces catastrophic medical expenses.
Strengthened Primary Healthcare: Expanding centres across rural and urban areas for early intervention.
Digital Health Platforms: Leveraging telemedicine and integrated health records to reduce access gaps.
Compulsory Health Education in Schools: Covering nutrition, hygiene, reproductive health, mental health, and road safety.
Global Lessons: Finland and Japan improved public health through mandatory school health education, offering valuable models for India.
• Prevention is more effective and less costly than treatment.
• Habits formed in childhood—like hygiene, nutrition, and safe practices—continue into adulthood.
• Empowering children, especially girls, leads to better family and community health outcomes.
• Evidence shows it reduces MMR, under-five mortality, and lifestyle-related diseases.
• Policymakers must integrate health education into school curricula.
• Greater investments in universal healthcare coverage and preventive care are critical.
• Parents should actively engage with school-based health programmes.
• India must aim for sustainable health systems by 2030, linking youth education with robust healthcare infrastructure.
India has made steady progress on SDG 3, but significant challenges remain in maternal and child health, reducing out-of-pocket expenses, and ensuring equitable access. A three-pronged strategy—universal insurance, strengthened primary healthcare, and school-level health education—can accelerate progress. Lessons from Finland and Japan demonstrate that early health education yields long-term gains. By embedding health awareness in schools and expanding healthcare access, India can transform its demographic advantage into a healthier, more productive society.
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