Mission for National Health

Recently, the National Health Mission (NHM) backed health system changes led to the establishment of resilient health systems, according to information provided to the Rajya Sabha by the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare.

Key Points

About: 

  • The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), which was first introduced in 2005, and the National Urban Health Mission were combined into the NHM by the Indian government in 2013. (Launched in 2013).
  • Health System Strengthening in Rural and Urban Areas for Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A), and Communicable and NonCommunicable Diseases are the key programmatic components.
  • According to the NHM, everyone will be able to access fair, affordable, and high-quality healthcare services that are accountable and sensitive to the requirements of their patients.

State and Union Territory (UT) Support

Health Facilities: NHM supports States/UTs in building new facilities in accordance with regulations and upgrading existing facilities to solve infrastructure gaps in response to their needs.

Health Services: NHM support is also given for the provision of a variety of free services linked to family planning, the universal immunization program, and significant illnesses like tuberculosis, leprosy, and vector-borne illnesses like malaria, dengue fever, and kala azar.

Major Projects Funded by NHM: 

  • Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK).
  • Implementing initiatives for free prescription drugs and free diagnostic services.
  • Program for National Dialysis in PM. 

In order to increase access to healthcare, particularly in rural regions, Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) and Tele-consultation services are also being developed.

Ayushman Bharat

  • The Pradhan Mantri Arogya Yojana, Jan (AB-PMJAY). Successes of NHM Indicators of health have improved.
  • The NHM has made it possible to achieve the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in its 15 years of operation. The Sustainable Development Goals have replaced the Millennium Development Goals.
  • Indicators of maternal, new-born, and child health have been significantly improved as a result of NHM. In particular, maternal mortality ratios, infant mortality rates, and mortality rates for children under five have declined at rates that are significantly faster in India than the global average.

Increase in Public Health Facilities: 

  • The NHM has helped to create capacity for targeted interventions of the various National Programs under the NHM as well as increased institutional capacities for service delivery.

Equitable Development: 

  • Additionally, the wellbeing of tribal peoples, residents of Left Wing Extremism hotspots, and urban impoverished people received consistent attention.
  • The Aspirational district initiative, a more recent initiative to ensure equity in access and use, has identified 115 districts across 28 states with weak social and human development indicators for allocation of additional resources and capacity enhancement to catch up with more progressive districts.

National Ambulance Services (NAS)

  • Ambulance networks did not exist when NRHM launched in 2005.
  • Under NRHM, 20,990 emergency response vehicles are now in use.
  • Additionally, 5,499 patient transport trucks are also in use, with a focus on offering “free pickup and dropback” services to expectant mothers and sick babies. Human Resource Augmentation: Through the Accredited Social Health Activists program, NHM assists states in recruiting service delivery HR, including physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals (ASHAs).
  • Under NHM, more than 10 lakh ASHAs and ASHA facilitators are employed. o NHM has additionally assisted governments in hiring personnel with expertise in public health, finance, planning, and management to develop interventions and carry them out, freeing up clinical staff to provide healthcare.

Medical Industry Reforms:

  • NHM made it possible to create and put into effect reforms that were primarily aimed at governance, procurement, and technology. Dealing with high out-of-pocket expenses (OOPE)
  • The Free Pharmaceuticals and Free Diagnostics Services Initiatives have been introduced under the NHM in recognition of the need to lower the existing high levels of OOPE and the fact that over 70% of the OOPE is due to drugs and diagnostics.
  • According to newly launched initiatives, more necessary medications are periodically added to the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) and the Essential Diagnostics Lists.
Scroll to Top