Important for UPSC prelims – Governance
Introduction
The National Health Mission (NHM) is a flagship public health initiative of the Government of India under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Originally launched as the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in 2005 to address rural health needs, it was expanded in 2013 to subsume the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) under the overarching framework of NHM. The mission aims to achieve universal access to equitable, affordable, and quality healthcare services that are accountable and responsive to people’s needs.
Core Focus Areas & Programs:
- RMNCH+A Strategy: Prioritizes Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child, and Adolescent Health across a continuum of care.
- Communicable & Non-Communicable Diseases: Integrated national programs targeting diseases like Tuberculosis, Malaria, Leprosy, Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases, and Mental Health.
- Health System Strengthening: Upgrading health facilities (Primary Health Centres, Community Health Centres) to function as Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (formerly Health and Wellness Centres) for comprehensive primary healthcare.
Key Features and Strategic Pillar
- Community-Led Health Model: Deploys over 10 lakh Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) who act as community health workers bridging the gap between rural households and the public health system.
- Decentralized Planning: Utilizes State/District Program Implementation Plans (PIPs), allowing local health societies to tailor interventions according to local epidemiological trends.
- Financial Protection Initiatives: Reduces out-of-pocket expenditure through key interventions such as the Free Drugs and Free Diagnostics Initiatives, Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK).
- Digital Innovations: Integration with platforms like the U-WIN portal for tracking immunizations and the digital health ecosystem via National Digital Health initiatives.
Major Target Goals & Impact
| Health Indicator | Objective / Trend Under NHM |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) | Target to reduce MMR below 70 per 1,000,000 live births (aligned with SDGs). |
| Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) | Aimed at reducing IMR to 25 or below per 1,000 live births. |
| Total Fertility Rate (TFR) | Stabilizing TFR to the replacement level of 2.1. |
| Disease Control | Eradication and control targets for TB, Kala-azar, Malaria, and Leprosy. |
Conclusion
The National Health Mission has played a pivotal role in strengthening India’s public health system by improving critical maternal, child, and demographic indicators. By shifting the focus from episodic care to a continuum of primary care and decentralization, NHM serves as a foundational pillar for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
| This concept has elaborately described under the article: India’s Changing Demography: Understanding Youth Aspirations and Family Formation |