India, Dec. 29 -- Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that India has recorded a 97 per cent reduction in malaria cases and the country will be free of the disease in a "short time". He was addressing the 'All India Medical Conference - IMA NATCON 2025' of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in Shela.

"Thanks to various healthcare-related schemes like Ayushman Bharat and Mission Indradhanush, we have recorded a 97 per cent reduction in malaria cases and we will be almost free from malaria in a short time. The Government has been able to bring down the mortality rate in dengue to just 1 per cent. There has been a 25 per cent reduction in maternal mortality," he said.

"From Rs 37,000 crore in 2014, the Centre's health budget now ...