The Mudaliar Committee, formally known as the Health Survey and Planning Committee, was appointed by the Government of India in June 1959.
Chaired by Dr. A. Lakshmanaswami Mudaliar, the then Vice-Chancellor of Madras University, the committee was tasked with reviewing the progress made in the health sector since the Bhore Committee Report of 1946.
The committee submitted its final report in 1962, providing a comprehensive blueprint for second generation of health planning in independent India.
Objectives and Scope
The primary focus of the Mudaliar Committee was to evaluate how well the previous recommendations had been implemented and to plan for next phase of national development.
- To survey the progress made in the field of health since the submission of the Bhore Committee report (1946).
- To evaluate the projects and achievements of the First (1951–56) and Second (1956–61) Five-Year Plans.
- To make recommendations for the future development and expansion of health services in the country.
- To review the status of medical education, professional training, and health research.
Findings
The committee’s findings include several gaps in healthcare system that had emerged during the first decade of independence:
- Primary Health Centers (PHCs) had been established, the quality of care was found to be unsatisfactory.
- Many PHCs were understaffed, poorly equipped, and lacked the necessary facilities to provide comprehensive care.
- There was a significant imbalance in the distribution of hospitals and beds, with a heavy concentration in urban areas.
- The link between peripheral health units and higher-level hospitals (district/state) was weak, meaning patients often had nowhere to go for specialized treatment.
Major Recommendations
The Mudaliar Committee focused on “consolidation before expansion”—improving what already existed before building more.
Strengthening Infrastructure
- Recommended that a Primary Health Center should cater to a maximum of 40,000 population (down from the earlier target of 50,000–60,000).
- Advocated for strengthening existing PHCs with better staff and equipment before opening new ones.
- Recommended that district hospitals be developed into specialist referral centers with advanced facilities to support the rural health network.
Health Administration
- Proposed the creation of an All India Health Service (similar to the IAS) to bring professional administrative standards to the healthcare sector.
- Recommended the integration of medical (curative) and public health (preventive) services at all administrative levels.
Medical Education
- Suggested establishing one medical college for every 50 lakh (5 million) population.
- Nursing Cadres: Envisaged three grades of nurses:
- Professional Nurses (Graduate/Degree).
- Basic Nurses (4-year training).
- Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) (2-year training).
- Recommended a compulsory three-month internship in Preventive and Social Medicine (PSM) to produce “social physicians.”
Disease Control and Family Planning
- Emphasized the need for specialized programs to control Malaria, Tuberculosis, Leprosy, and Smallpox.
- For population control program, recommended strengthening family planning services as a national priority.
Mudaliar vs. Bhore Committee (What are differences)
| Feature | Bhore Committee (1946) | Mudaliar Committee (1962) |
| Primary Focus | Laying the foundation of health services. | Reviewing progress and consolidation. |
| PHC Norm | 1 PHC per 10,000–20,000 (Long term). | 1 PHC per 40,000. |
| Philosophical point | Rapid expansion and radical change. | Consolidation of existing gains. |
| Referral System | Secondary units for every 2 villages. | Strengthen District Hospitals as referral bases. |