Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) is a government ministry charged with health policies and responsible for government programs relating to family planning in India.

The Minister of Health and Family Welfare holds cabinet rank as a member of the Council of Ministers.

Initially the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had two Departments, Each of these Departments was headed by the Secretary to the Government of India:-

• DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
• Department of Health Research

On August 7, 2014 vide extraordinary Gazette notification Part –II Section-3, Sub Section(ii) New Delhi Thursday August 7, 2014, Department of AIDS Control has been merged with Department of Health & Family Welfare and now be known as National AIDS Control Organization (NACO). As per the amendment in allocation of business rules vide Cabinet secretariat’s Notification Number- 1/21/35/2014-Cab dated December 8, 2014,Department of AYUSH has been made Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) with focused attention on development of education and research in Ayurveda, Yoga & naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy systems. Now Ministry of Health and Family Welfare comprises the following two departments, each of which is headed by a Secretary to the Government of India

Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) is attached office of the Department of Health & Family Welfare and has subordinate offices spread all over the country. The DGHS renders technical advice on all Medical and Public Health matters and is involved in the implementation of various Health Services.