Effective Implementation of Healthcare Delivery Schemes

In March 2012, the Cabinet, inter-alia, approved continuation of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) for a period of five years, from 01.04.2012 to 31.03.2017 (i.e. co-terminus with the 12th Five Year Plan). Currently, NRHM is a Sub- Mission of National Health Mission (NHM) with National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) being the other Sub-Mission. Government of India had adopted a strategy of co-location of AYUSH facilities at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs), thus enabling choice for different systems of medicine from a single platform. As of now, 15726 AYUSH facilities are co-located at various healthcare facilities including PHCs, CHCs and Districts Hospitals. 21361 AYUSH doctors and 6289 AYUSH paramedics are engaged under NRHM. Necessary support for training, drugs & equipment, IEC etc. is provided under the NRHM and National Ayush Mission. ASHA is the first port of call in the community especially for marginalized sections of the population, with a focus on women and children. The majority of states have in place an active training and support system for the ASHA to ensure continuing training, on site field mentoring, and performance monitoring. More than 8.96 lakh ASHAs are in place across the country and serve as facilitators, mobilizers and providers of community level care. The Government of India is committed to reduce the high Out of Pocket (OOP) expenditure inter-alia by providing free drugs in public health facilities. Government of India introduced an incentive to the extent of 5 % of the state’s Resource Envelope under NHM for those states that implement free essential drugs scheme for all patients accessing public health facilities. Further, substantial funding for free drugs is being provided to states that implement the National Health Mission - Free Drug Service Initiative. Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) are used to provide primary healthcare services in hard to reach areas. To increase visibility, awareness and accountability, all MMUs supported under the NHM have been repositioned as “National Mobile Medical Unit” with universal design. The MoS, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today.