India Targets Disease Elimination and Health Infrastructure Boost in 2025
As 2025 begins, India is intensifying its focus on transforming its healthcare system. The country’s goals include the elimination of diseases, the expansion of healthcare infrastructure, and the adoption of advanced medical technologies.
Following notable strides in 2024, such as the successful eradication of Trachoma, India is continuing its fight against tuberculosis (TB) and expanding access to healthcare services with a new health insurance initiative for senior citizens. India has set a bold target to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) by 2025, aiming to achieve this five years ahead of the global deadline. According to the Union Health Ministry, the country’s TB incidence has dropped from 237 cases per 100,000 people in 2015 to 195 per 100,000 in 2023, with TB-related deaths decreasing by 21.4% in the same period. Despite these improvements, challenges like overcrowded living conditions, drug resistance, and drug shortages continue to hinder progress.
Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, former president of the Indian Medical Association, noted that India bears 25% of the global TB burden, making elimination a difficult task. The COVID-19 pandemic further complicated efforts. To combat this, the government has launched the TB Mukt Bharat Campaign, which focuses on 347 high-priority districts with enhanced interventions and support.
Dengue has been another pressing health issue, with nearly 200,000 reported cases and 160 deaths in 2024 alone. To tackle this, India has been working on dengue vaccine trials in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The results are expected to be promising, with hopes that the vaccine will be launched in 2025. Strengthening prevention measures, such as better vector control, will also be a part of the ongoing efforts to reduce the disease burden. 2025 is set to be a milestone year for India’s healthcare infrastructure. The Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) aims to establish 150 critical care hospital blocks, each with 150 beds, which will require an investment of ₹2,220 crore. Additionally, the government plans to set up new All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and upgrade existing medical colleges. These measures will boost the country’s healthcare capacity and address regional disparities.
Currently, 18 of the 22 newly sanctioned AIIMS are operational, with the remaining four nearing completion. This is part of India’s broader push to strengthen healthcare in underserved regions. Additionally, the number of medical colleges has more than doubled, from 387 in 2013-14 to 780 in 2024-25, ensuring greater access to medical education. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, continue to rise across India. The government is focusing on early diagnosis, preventive care, and public awareness campaigns to mitigate the impact of these diseases. With the growing burden of NCDs, India is striving to ensure better healthcare access for all, particularly in rural areas.
In a significant move, the government extended the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana to senior citizens aged 70 and above in 2024. The scheme, which is the world’s largest health insurance initiative, now benefits over six crore individuals. This extension is part of India’s efforts to ensure equitable access to healthcare for its aging population. While these initiatives reflect India’s ambitious healthcare vision for 2025, experts stress that adequate funding is crucial for their success. The Healthcare Federation of India (NATHEALTH) has emphasised the need for the government to allocate 2.5% of GDP to healthcare by 2025 to meet the objectives fully. Increased investment in healthcare infrastructure, technologies, and research will be essential to make India’s healthcare transformation a reality. With focused efforts, strategic investments, and government support, 2025 is poised to be a year of transformative change for India’s healthcare system. The country’s health goals aim not only to reduce the disease burden but also to ensure greater access to healthcare for all citizens. If successfully implemented, these measures will improve the nation’s health outcomes, contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment, and create a more equitable and sustainable healthcare system for future generations.
