Choubey seeks involvement of state health ministers in NHM

Union minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey today sought enhanced participation by state health ministers in the National Health Mission, saying NHM has led to improved health outcomes and strengthened public health systems.

Releasing the 11th Common Review Mission report, Choubey said up to 70 per cent of health-related work in states is done through NHM.

"NHM has a huge responsibility in making India healthy and disease-free. It has led to improved health outcomes and health indicators due to strengthened system of healthcare delivery. It continues to play an important role in strengthening public health systems at the state and sub-district levels," Choubey said.

He said state health ministers should be adequately informed about NHM.

The main components of NHM include strengthening the health system in rural and urban areas, improving the maternal, neonatal- child and adolescent health and focusing on communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Choubey said India has registered a record 22 per cent reduction in maternal mortality rate since 2013, the highest percentage decline so far when compared to all previous reductions in MMRs as per the earlier rounds of Sample Registration System.

"MMR of India has declined from 167 in 2011-2013 to 130 in 2014-2016. It is because of the joint efforts of the Ministry and the States. I congratulate the states and all stakeholders associated with this achievement," Choubey said.

Health Secretary Preeti Sudan said the ministry has undertaken an initiative to strengthen sub-health centres as health and wellness centres in a phased manner so as to meet the commitment of operationalising 1,50,000 HWCs by 2022.

She said NHM needs to look at anti-microbial resistance, especially in SNCUs and should ensure that they are infection free. She also emphasized on the need for developing specific time bound strategy for leprosy and kala-azar districts.

The 11th CRM team visited 16 states/UTs, of which four were northeastern states, six were high focus states and six were non-high focus states. The terms of reference include service delivery, quality assurance, community processes; information and knowledge, healthcare financing; procurement of drugs, diagnostics and supply chain management and governance and management.

The CRM report spans all aspects of health system reform and uses a mix of methods- including secondary data review, rapid assessment of facilities, and implementer and beneficiary perspectives.