NITI Aayog launches the National Index of Performance on Health Outcomes

National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog, the think tank of Union Government, launched a Performance on Health Outcomes’ index.

The Health Outcomes’ index developed by NITI Aayog and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare was launched to rank states on the basis of their performance on measurable health indicators.

The Aayog in a press release said, “The index is meant to capture the annual incremental improvements by States, rather than focusing on historical achievements”.

How was Index developed?

The index was developed with the inputs from international and domestic experts, including academicians and development partners as well as feedback from states. Before finalisation and launch at India level, the indicators of the index were tested in two states.

Features of the index

• The index includes indicators in the domains of health outcomes governance and information as well as key inputs and processes.

• The index also includes the monitorable indicators, which is a part of the Sustainable Development Goal in Health.
Aim of Health Outcomes’ index

• It envisions bringing required improvements in social sector outcomes, which have not kept pace with the economic growth of the country.

• It will be used to take actions in the states that are required to improve the health outcomes and improve data collection systems.

Besides, the guidebook of the first exercise of the regional workshops, which will be conducted across India in series until February 2017, was jointly released by CK Mishra, Secretary-Health and Amitabh Kant, CEO NITI Aayog. The series of key activities involved in this entire process of assessment is mentioned below along with timelines:

The workshops will be conducted to disseminate the features of the index and methods of data submission to the states. Participants of the exercise include

• Technical assistance from the World Bank

• Mentor agencies to hand-hold States (if required)

• Third party organizations, who will validate the data submitted prior to calculation of the index

The results of the data that is entered into the index will be published on a web portal hosted by NITI Aayog.

It is believed that the index will help in monitoring the performance at state level, which will act as an input for providing performance-based incentives and improvement in health outcomes.

Besides, the release also said that a similar exercise has also been launched for the education and water sectors.