New Delhi: The National Health Mission (NHM) has significantly advanced India’s healthcare sector, with over 12 lakh additional healthcare workers engaged between 2021-24, a key milestone in strengthening the country’s health infrastructure.
Ahead of the budget, the Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reviewed the progress of the NHM for the years 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24.
Demonstrating remarkable progress, the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) declined by 83 per cent since 1990—outpacing the global decline of 45 per cent—while the Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) fell by 75 per cent compared to the global reduction of 60 per cent. These milestones, achieved under NHM’s umbrella, underscore India’s strides in achieving public health goals ahead of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets.
Strengthening Human Resources and Healthcare Delivery
Between FY 2021 and FY 2024, NHM facilitated the engagement of 12.13 lakh additional healthcare workers, including General Duty Medical Officers, specialists, nurses, and Community Health Officers (CHOs). The mission added 90,740 CHOs in FY 2021-22, 1.29 lakh in FY 2022-23, and 1.38 lakh in FY 2023-24. These enhancements were instrumental in delivering healthcare at the grassroots level, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
NHM also strengthened its focus on infrastructure. Ayushman Arogya Mandir Centers grew to 1.72 lakh by FY 2023-24, providing essential services ranging from maternal and child healthcare to non-communicable disease management.
Improved Maternal and Child Health
The mission played a pivotal role in reducing maternal and child mortality rates. India’s MMR dropped from 130 per lakh live births in 2014-16 to 97 in 2018-20, marking a 25 per cent reduction in just four years. U5MR saw a steep decline, falling from 45 per 1,000 live births in 2014 to 32 in 2020, showcasing India’s ability to exceed global benchmarks. Similarly, the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) improved, reducing from 39 in 2014 to 28 in 2020.
Efforts like the Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 5.0 campaign ensured that over 34.77 crore children were vaccinated against measles and rubella, achieving a coverage rate of 97.98 per cent.
Disease Control and Elimination
Under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), TB incidence dropped from 237 cases per 1,00,000 population in 2015 to 195 in 2023. The TB mortality rate also fell from 28 to 22 during the same period. Supporting this, 1.56 lakh Ni-kshay Mitra volunteers provided nutritional and medical assistance to over 9.4 lakh TB patients under the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.
Efforts to combat malaria and kala-azar also yielded impressive results. By 2023, all endemic blocks met kala-azar elimination targets of fewer than one case per 10,000 population. Malaria mortality showed a consistent decline despite an uptick in surveillance efforts, emphasizing robust disease management.
The National Sickle Cell Anemia Elimination Mission screened over 2.61 crore individuals in tribal areas, aiming to eradicate the disease by 2047.
Expanding Access through Technology and Innovation
The U-WIN digital platform, launched in January 2023, has enabled real-time tracking of vaccination events across India. By FY 2023-24, it had expanded to 65 districts, ensuring timely immunization for pregnant women, infants, and children.
NHM’s digital initiatives extended to dialysis services under the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme (PMNDP), which benefited over 4.53 lakh patients in FY 2023-24, delivering more than 62.35 lakh hemodialysis sessions.
Roadmap for Public Health Transformation
With its renewed mandate until 2026, NHM is poised to continue its transformative journey in addressing health challenges, expanding resources, and building a resilient public health system. As India accelerates progress in maternal and child health, disease elimination, and healthcare accessibility, NHM’s achievements reinforce the country’s leadership in meeting global health benchmarks ahead of schedule.
The mission’s multifaceted approach, combining human resources, infrastructure, digital health solutions, and community engagement, reflects a comprehensive strategy to ensure equitable and quality healthcare for all Indians.
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