Kerala, long celebrated for its robust healthcare system, has slipped to fourth place in the NITI Aayog’s 2023–24 SDG 3 Health Index, which tracks progress toward the UN’s “Good Health and Well-being” goals. This marks a notable drop from the state’s earlier dominance, where it topped the rankings in the first two editions (2018 and 2019–20) with scores of 92 and 82—far above the national average.
Several factors contributed to this fall. Child immunisation rates dropped from 92% in 2020–21 to 85.4% in 2023–24, and institutional deliveries saw a minor dip from 99.90% to 99.85%. More critically, Kerala’s ranking was affected by newly introduced indicators like suicide rates, road-accident deaths, and out-of-pocket health expenses, where the state underperformed. Kerala reported a suicide rate of 28.5 per lakh, more than double the national average of 12.4, and a road accident death rate of 12.10, still higher than the national norm.
Although Kerala scored 80 this year—above the national average of 77—it was outpaced by Gujarat (90), Maharashtra and Uttarakhand (84), and Himachal Pradesh (83). It now shares the fourth spot with Karnataka.
Despite the setback, Kerala remains strong in critical areas such as maternal and child mortality, HIV control, life expectancy, and health workforce density. However, to reclaim its leadership in health performance, the state must urgently address mental health, road safety, and healthcare affordability.
The message is clear: while Kerala continues to lead in overall development goals, maintaining its reputation in health demands renewed focus and sustained action.
