Infant Mortality Rate down by 50% between 1990-2012: Govt

New Delhi: Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has gone down by 50 per cent in India during 1990-2012 while countries like Nepal and Bangladesh have shown a decline ranging between 60 and 67 per cent in the same period, Lok Sabha was informed today.

"The Working Paper published by NITI Ayog, titled 'Health System in India: Bridging the gap between current performance and potential', indicates that IMR has reduced by 50 per cent in India during 1990-2012 while Nepal, Bangladesh and Cambodia have shown a decline ranging from 60-67 per cent during the corresponding period," Union Health Minister J P Nadda said.

He said, "The probable reasons are lack of manpower in inaccessible areas, inadequate access to social determinants and limited private sector engagement."

Steps taken by the government to combat infant mortality and increase vaccine coverage under national health mission include promotion of institutional deliveries through cash incentive under Janani Suraksha Yojana and Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram, strengthening of delivery points for providing comprehensive and quality reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health services amongst others.

He said a universal immunisation programme is being supported by the government to provide vaccination to children against life threatening diseases such as TB, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, tetanus, hepatitis B and measles.

Pentavelent vaccine has been introduced across the country and 'Mission Indradhanush' has been launched to fully immunise more than 89 lakh children who are either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, he said.