Context:

• Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Jagat Prakash Nadda, chaired the 9th meeting of the Mission Steering Group (MSG) of the National Health Mission (NHM) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
• The meeting focused on strengthening healthcare services and reviewing the implementation of the National Health Mission (NHM).

Key Achievements Presented in the Meeting:

Significant Improvements in Health Indicators:

Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR):

• India has achieved the target of 100 per 1,00,000 live births under the National Health Policy (NHP).
• MMR declined by 83% between 1990 and 2020, surpassing the global average.

Infant Mortality Rate (IMR):

• 69% decline in India compared to the global reduction of 55% over the same period.

Under-5 Mortality Rate:

• 75% decline in India, compared to a 58% global decline.
• As per SRS 2020, 11 states/UTs have achieved the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target.

Population and Reproductive Health:

Total Fertility Rate (TFR):

• Reduced from 3.4 (1992-93) to 2.0 (2019-21).
• 31 states have achieved replacement-level fertility.

Improvements in Healthcare Expenditure:

Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOP):

• Reduced from 69.4% of Total Health Expenditure (THE) in 2004-05 to 39.4% in 2021-22.

Government Health Expenditure:

• Increased from 22.5% in 2004-05 to 48% in 2021-22.

Expansion of Healthcare Services:

• Health Human Resources (HRH) under NHM:
• Increased from 23,000 (2006-07) to 5.23 lakh (2023-24).

Number of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs:

• Over 1.76 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs operational.
• Annual patient footfall increased from 13.49 crore (2019-20) to 121.03 crore (2023-24).

Primary Healthcare Sessions:

• Increased from 0.11 crore (2019-20) to 1.54 crore (2023-24).

NCD (Non-Communicable Diseases) Screening:

• Increased from 10.94 crore (2019-20) to 109.55 crore (2023-24).

Teleconsultation Services:

• Increased from 0.26 crore (2019-20) to 11.83 crore (2023-24).

Disease Control & Eradication:

Tuberculosis (TB) Elimination:

• 18% reduction in TB cases (2015-2023), more than double the global decline.
• 21% reduction in TB mortality.

Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme:

• Implemented in 748 districts.
• 26.97 lakh patients covered, 3.27 crore dialysis sessions conducted.

Sickle Cell Anemia Elimination Mission:

• Over 5 crore people screened.
• 1.84 lakh patients diagnosed, 2.24 crore Sickle Cell Cards distributed.

Malaria Eradication Mission:

• 79.3% reduction in malaria cases (compared to 2014).
• 85.2% decline in malaria-related deaths.

Kala-Azar Elimination:

• Achieved by 2023, with annual cases reduced to less than 1 per 10,000 population at the block level, exceeding SDG targets.

Major Achievements & Recognitions:

• WHO certified India as "Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus-Free" on 15 May 2015.
• On 8 October 2024, WHO announced India's elimination of Trachoma as a public health concern.
• By 28 February 2025, 85% of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs offer expanded healthcare services.

New Initiatives & Monitoring:

• In June 2024, the "ODK Toolkit" was launched for self-assessment of health facilities.
• 95% of health facilities across the country have been assessed using this toolkit.

National Health Mission (NHM):

• Launched: 2005
• Objective:
• To strengthen public healthcare systems for providing affordable and quality healthcare to rural populations, particularly vulnerable groups, up to district hospital (DH) levels.
• 2012:
• National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) was introduced.
• NHM was restructured into two sub-missions – NRHM (National Rural Health Mission) and NUHM.
• 2017-2020:
• On 21 March 2018, the Cabinet approved NHM continuation from 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2020.
• 2020:
• On 10 January 2020, the Ministry of Finance approved an interim extension of NHM until 31 March 2021 or until the implementation of the 15th Finance Commission recommendations.
• 2021-2026:
• On 1 April 2021, the Ministry of Finance approved NHM continuation until 31 March 2026, subject to EFC recommendations and financial constraints.