Syllabus :GS 2/Health
Context
- The Union Health Minister recently chaired the ninth meeting of the Mission Steering Group (MSG) of the National Health Mission (NHM).
| Do you know? – The Mission Steering Group is the highest policy-making and steering institution under the NHM, providing broad policy direction and governance for the health sector. – The MSG plays a critical role in shaping policies and strategies that drive the nation’s healthcare initiatives. It is fully empowered to approve financial norms for all schemes and components. |
National Health Mission (NHM)
- The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) was launched in April 2005 to provide accessible, affordable, and quality health services to the poorest households in remote rural areas.
- In May 2013, the National Health Mission (NHM) was approved by the Cabinet, incorporating the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) as a sub-mission alongside NRHM.
Achievements under NHM
- India achieved the National Health Policy target of Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) 100 deaths per 1 lakh live births, with an 83% decline in MMR from 1990 to 2020, surpassing the global decline rate.
- India saw a 69% reduction in Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and a 75% decline in Under-5 Mortality Rate, both outperforming the global averages.
- Total Fertility Rate (TFR) decreased from 3.4 in 1992-93 to 2.0 in 2019-21.
- Out-of-pocket expenditure decreased from 69.4% in 2004-05 to 39.4% in 2021-22, while government health expenditure increased from 22.5% to 48%.
- The number of healthy human resources under NHM increased from 23,000 in 2006-07 to 5.23 lakh in 2023-24.
| Health Achievements – WHO certification: India eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus in 2015 and Trachoma as a public health problem in 2024. – Ayushman Arogya Mandirs: Over 1.76 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are operational, with increased footfall and wellness sessions. – Screening and Teleconsultations: Non-communicable diseases (NCD) screenings grew from 10.94 crore in 2019-20 to 109.55 crore in 2023-24. 1. Teleconsultations increased from 0.26 crore in 2019-20 to 11.83 crore in 2023-24. – Tuberculosis (TB): The National TB Elimination Program saw an 18% reduction in TB incidence and a 21% decrease in mortality. – National Dialysis Program: Covered all states/UTs, providing services to 26.97 lakh patients across 748 districts. – Sickle Cell Anaemia: Over 5 crore people screened, 1.84 lakh diagnosed, and 2.24 crore sickle cell cards distributed. – Malaria and Kala-azar: India achieved a 79.3% reduction in malaria cases and a 85.2% reduction in malaria deaths. The Kala-azar elimination target was met in 2023. |
Source: PIB
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