Mudaliar Committee

The Mudaliar Committee, officially known as the Health Survey and Planning Committee, was established by the Government of India in 1959 under the leadership of Dr. A. Lakshmanaswami Mudaliar, then Vice-Chancellor of Madras University. This committee was formed as a continuation of the Bhore Committee (1946), with the objective of reviewing the progress made in India’s healthcare system after independence and identifying the gaps that still remained.

The post-independence period saw major national development efforts, including the introduction of the First Five-Year Plan (1951–1956). The Mudaliar Committee was tasked with evaluating the implementation and impact of health-related initiatives during this plan and providing guidance for the upcoming Second Five-Year Plan (1956–1961).

Objectives of the Mudaliar Committee (1959)

The committee’s objectives were shaped by the need to review the outcomes of the First Five-Year Plan (1951–1956) and prepare recommendations for the Second Five-Year Plan (1956–1961). It was also expected to examine how well the Bhore Committee (1946) recommendations had been implemented. Below are the detailed objectives of the Mudaliar Committee:

1. To Evaluate the Progress Since the Bhore Committee

The Bhore Committee had earlier proposed comprehensive reforms in India’s health system. The Mudaliar Committee was assigned the task of:

Reviewing the steps taken since the Bhore Committee’s report.
Analyzing the implementation status of its recommendations.
Assessing whether those recommendations had led to meaningful improvements in public health. This evaluation helped identify what worked, what failed, and what needed further revision.

2. To Examine the Implementation of the First Five-Year Plan

The First Five-Year Plan marked the beginning of planned national development in India, including investments in the health sector. The Mudaliar Committee was expected to:

Examine how health programs and schemes were implemented during this period (1951–1956).
Identify the successes and limitations of health-related activities.
Understand the challenges that affected their performance, such as inadequate resources, poor planning, or weak administration.

3. To Suggest Measures for Improvement in Health Services

Recognizing the existing gaps, the committee aimed to:

Recommend practical and effective strategies to strengthen healthcare services.
Improve the organization, infrastructure, human resources, and delivery of medical services.
Ensure a more balanced development of rural and urban health systems. The focus was on both accessibility and efficiency.

4. To Provide Direction for the Second Five-Year Plan

The Second Five-Year Plan (1956–1961) required better planning for healthcare. The committee was expected to:

Propose realistic and goal-oriented strategies.
Align health service development with national economic and social development goals.
Recommend how to better integrate health planning into overall development policies.

5. To Improve the Efficiency of Health Administration

India’s health administration needed structural improvements. The committee’s objective was to:

Review the functioning of health departments at central, state, and district levels.
Identify administrative weaknesses such as poor coordination, delays, or lack of accountability.
Recommend methods to improve leadership, monitoring, and interdepartmental collaboration.

6. To Review Manpower Planning and Medical Education

A major concern was the shortage and unequal distribution of trained health professionals. The committee aimed to:

Evaluate the existing systems of medical, nursing, and paramedical education.
Suggest ways to improve both the quality and quantity of training institutions.
Ensure that trained personnel were available to meet the growing health demands of the population.

7. To Develop a Balanced and Equitable Health Service

Equity was a core concern, especially in rural and underserved areas. The committee’s objective was to:

Ensure that all sections of the population, regardless of their socio-economic status or location, had access to quality healthcare services.
Promote the development of infrastructure in backward regions.
Reduce disparities in healthcare access between rural and urban areas.

Recommendations of the Mudaliar Committee (1959)

The Mudaliar Committee, also known as the Health Survey and Planning Committee, was appointed in 1959 to review the state of India’s healthcare system and provide recommendations to improve its efficiency, accessibility, and quality.

After an in-depth evaluation of health programs, infrastructure, and manpower across the country, the committee made several key recommendations focused on restructuring the delivery of healthcare services and strengthening medical education and administration.

1. Strengthening of Primary Health Centres (PHCs)

Population coverage: The committee recommended one PHC for every 40,000 population, as opposed to the earlier Bhore Committee recommendation of one PHC for every 20,000.
Infrastructure: Each PHC should have adequate physical infrastructure, including outpatient facilities, maternity care, inpatient beds, minor surgery facilities, and laboratory services.
Staffing: PHCs should be staffed with a team that includes doctors, nurses, health assistants, and auxiliary workers to ensure effective delivery of primary care.
Focus on quality: Emphasis was placed on improving the functioning and quality of existing PHCs rather than simply expanding their number.

2. Development of a Three-Tier Healthcare System

The committee proposed a structured referral system organized into three levels:

Primary Level: Sub-centres and PHCs providing basic healthcare services.
Secondary Level: Taluka or District hospitals offering specialist services.
Tertiary Level: Medical colleges and teaching hospitals equipped to handle complex and advanced care.
This tiered approach would help reduce the patient burden at higher levels and ensure efficient use of resources.

3. Integration of Preventive and Curative Services

The committee recommended that preventive, promotive, and curative services should be integrated at all levels of healthcare delivery.
Services like immunization, malaria control, sanitation, maternal and child health, and family planning should be delivered alongside treatment for illnesses.
This approach aimed to improve public health outcomes through better coordination and comprehensive care.

4. Focus on Quality Over Quantity

The Mudaliar Committee emphasized that merely expanding the number of institutions or health programs was not sufficient.
There should be a strong focus on the quality of services, which included proper training of staff, availability of medicines and equipment, and standardization of care.
Regular monitoring, evaluation, and supervision were suggested to ensure accountability and effectiveness.

5. Improvement in Medical and Health Education

The committee stressed the need to reform medical education to produce more community-oriented and competent doctors.
It recommended the establishment of more medical colleges, nursing schools, and paramedical training institutes across the country.
The curriculum should include subjects like public health, community medicine, and preventive care, with exposure to rural health problems.
The quality of education needed to be consistent and aligned with national health goals.

6. Strengthening of Health Administration

The administrative framework at central, state, and district levels required strengthening.
The committee recommended that qualified public health administrators should be appointed to lead health programs effectively.
Better interdepartmental coordination between health, education, water supply, sanitation, and rural development was necessary for comprehensive public health planning.
Regular training programs for health officers and program managers were also advised.

7. Urban Health Services Development

The committee observed that urban health services were neglected, especially in slum areas.
It recommended the establishment of well-organized urban health centres with services tailored for the urban poor and vulnerable populations.
Greater attention should be paid to waste disposal, drainage, sanitation, and communicable disease control in urban areas.

8. Health Manpower Planning

There was a shortage and unequal distribution of trained healthcare personnel across the country.
The committee suggested the creation of a central authority responsible for health manpower planning, training, and distribution.
It proposed incentives, better service conditions, and promotions to attract healthcare workers to rural and remote areas.

9. Improved Centre–State Coordination

Effective implementation of national health programs required strong coordination between central and state governments.
The committee recommended clearer policy guidelines, technical support, and financial assistance from the Centre, with states ensuring local execution and reporting.
A regular mechanism for information sharing and policy feedback was also advised.

10. Strengthening Health Statistics and Research

Reliable health data and epidemiological research were considered essential for informed decision-making.
The committee emphasized the development of a system for collecting, analyzing, and using health statistics at all levels.
It also recommended supporting research in public health, especially in the fields of nutrition, communicable diseases, and rural health systems.