Adding health to years: A review of the National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE) in India

The global share of elderly persons (60 years and above) is expected to rise from 13.4% in 2020 to 21.3% by 2050. In India, the elderly population accounts for 8.6% of the total population. A large share of responsibility on ensuring the health and well-being befalls on the government. Driven by the vision of healthy ageing, the National Programme for the Health Care of Elderly (NPHCE) was launched in 2011 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Yet, its effective implementation is challenged by the changing landscapes and epidemiological transitions. This review article explores the progress of elderly care with NPHCE, with a special focus on its implementation status, service delivery, and human resources to provide future directions for the program. It primarily uses the Common Review Mission Reports (2007–2019), archival sources from government websites, and relevant literature from PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar to provide an informed perspective of elderly care in India. We conclude that NPHCE requires strengthening through collaborative action between the relevant stakeholders. Strong implementation of appropriate policies and programs to address health care challenges of the ageing population is of crucial importance for India to achieve the health care needs of its elderly. As the elderly population is set to grow dramatically in the next few decades, this review article reveals areas needing urgent attention to strengthen elderly care through NPHCE in India.