50 years of neonatology in India: Progress and future

India has made impressive gains in its child survival indices during the past half a century with infant mortality rates declining from 159.3 in 1960 to 44 in 2011 and neonatal mortality rate declining from 47 (1990) to 32 (2010). Neonatal health is now an integral part of the country’s flagship program — National Rural Health Mission. Facility based newborn care is not only available in large public and private sectors hospitals, but also in about 300 of India’s district hospitals. Complementing these efforts is home based newborn care being delivered by community health volunteers. The last two decades has also witnessed an increase in newborn research and its incorporation into medical and paramedical education as a major course component. Neonatology now is an independent superspecialty in India. The National Neonatology Forum has had a major role in spearheading reforms in neonatal care in India.