CHANDIGARH: In a telling indicator of the healthcare scenario in Punjab and Haryana, both figure among states having a high maternal mortality ratio (MMR).
They need to do more to improve the health and safety of mothers — before and after childbirth.
As per the data published in the Sustainable Development Goals- 2020-21 report of Niti Aayog, MMR in Punjab stands at 129 per lakh live births against the national average of 113, while Haryana has a mortality rate of 91.
The central government has set a target of reducing the maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per lakh live births.
Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have already achieved the set target.
None of the three states in the region have managed to achieve 100% immunisation of children in the age group of 9-11 months for Bacillus Calmette Guérin (BCG), measles, and 3 doses each of polio and DPT that aims to end preventable deaths of newborns and children.
Himachal Pradesh has the lowest coverage of 86%, followed by Haryana with 87% and Punjab, having 89% immunisation of children against the all-India average of 91%.
Lacking proper nourishment.
Children in the region are underweight and stunted.
In Haryana, 34.9% of children under five years are stunted, while the percentage in HP and Punjab is 28.4 and 24.3.
The aim is to reduce stunting to 6%.
Haryana has been found lagging behind in providing the required manpower in the health facilities.
The state has only 26 physicians, nurses and midwives per 10,000 population while the average count of manpower at the national level stands at 37.
With 66 medical professionals per 10,000 population, the hill state of Himachal has the highest health workforce in the region while Punjab has 56.
Punjab (0.08) and Haryana (0.09) are among the states with high HIV incidence per 1,000 uninfected population while at 0.02, Himachal Pradesh is close to achieving the target of zero HIV incidence.
The average monthly per capita out-of-pocket expenditure on health is 14.40% of the monthly per capita consumption expenditure (MPCE) in Himachal, the highest in the region, followed by Punjab (13.50%) and Haryana (10.40).
Out-of-pocket medical payments are expenditures borne by a patient where insurance does not cover the full cost.
With 255 cases per one lakh population, Haryana has the highest notification rate amongst states, followed by Himachal (235) and Punjab (196).
The latter two states are yet to achieve the target of 242.