Why in news?

The National Health Mission (NHM) has played a crucial role in enhancing India’s public health by significantly reducing maternal mortality, tuberculosis (TB), and sickle cell anemia. It has also expanded human resources in healthcare and developed an integrated response to health emergencies.

These achievements were highlighted by the Central Government in its 2021-24 assessment report presented to the Union Cabinet on January 22, 2025.

What’s in today’s article?

• National Health Mission (NHM)
• Key Achievements of NHM (2021-24)

National Health Mission (NHM)

• NHM is a program in India that aims to provide quality healthcare services to all people.
• Background - Launch and Evolution
  • The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) was launched in 2005 to build accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare systems for rural populations, particularly vulnerable groups, up to the District Hospital (DH) level.
  • In 2012, the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) was introduced, and the NRHM was rebranded as the National Health Mission (NHM), consisting of two sub-missions: NRHM and NUHM.
• Goals
  • Ensure universal access to quality healthcare services
  • Provide healthcare services that are affordable and equitable
  • Provide healthcare services that are responsive to people's needs
  • Ensure that healthcare services are accountable
  • Advance towards meeting Sustainable Development Goal 3
• Implementation Strategy
  • The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides financial and technical support to states and union territories to ensure accessible, affordable, accountable, and effective healthcare up to the DH level.
• Key Components of NHM
  • Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A): Focuses on improving maternal and child health, reducing child mortality, and enhancing nutritional outcomes.
  • Health Systems Strengthening: Includes the improvement of healthcare facilities, human resources for health, and governance structures.
  • Non-Communicable Disease Control Programmes: Focuses on healthcare for diseases that cannot be transmitted
  • Communicable Disease Control Programmes: Focuses on healthcare for diseases that can be transmitted
  • Infrastructure maintenance: This component supports salary requirements for family welfare schemes, including training centers and health posts, with GOI approval for new ones.

Key Achievements of NHM (2021-24)

• Expansion of Human Resources
  • Engagement of healthcare workers:
    • FY 2021-22: 2.69 lakh workers, including 90,740 CHOs (community health officers).
    • FY 2022-23: 4.21 lakh workers, including 1.29 lakh CHOs.
    • FY 2023-24: 5.23 lakh workers, including 1.38 lakh CHOs.
  • Enhanced grassroots healthcare delivery.
• Reduction in Maternal and Child Mortality Rates
  • Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR): Declined by 83% since 1990 (higher than the global decline of 45%).
  • Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR): Reduced from 45 (2014) to 32 (2020).
  • Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): Decreased from 39 (2014) to 28 (2020).
  • Total Fertility Rate (TFR): Dropped from 2.3 (2015) to 2.0 (2020).
• Disease Control and Elimination
  • Tuberculosis (TB):
    • Incidence reduced from 237 per 1,00,000 (2015) to 195 (2023).
    • Mortality rate decreased from 28 to 22 (2015-2023).
  • Malaria: Cases and deaths declined by 13.28% and 3.22%, respectively, in 2021 compared to 2020.
  • Kala-Azar: Endemic blocks achieved the target of less than one case per 10,000 by 2023.
• Vaccination Achievements
  • Measles-Rubella Elimination Campaign:
    • Vaccinated 34.77 crore children under Intensified Mission Indradhanush 5.0.
    • Achieved 97.98% coverage.
• Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
• Administered over 220 crore vaccine doses (January 2021–March 2024).
• Implementation of the India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Package (ECRP) in two phases.
• Specialized Health Initiatives
  • Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan: 1.56 lakh Ni-kshay Mitra volunteers supporting 9.40 lakh TB patients.
  • Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme (PMNDP): Over 62.35 lakh hemodialysis sessions provided to 4.53 lakh patients in FY 2023-24.
  • National Sickle Cell Anemia Elimination Mission: Over 2.61 crore individuals screened in tribal areas.
• Digital Health Innovations
  • U-WIN platform launched in January 2023 for real-time vaccination tracking, covering 65 districts by FY 2023-24.
• Healthcare Infrastructure Development
  • Certification of 7,998 public health facilities under National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS).
  • Operational Ayushman Arogya Mandir centers increased to 1,72,148, with 1,34,650 offering 12 key healthcare services.
  • 24x7 services introduced in 12,348 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and 3,133 First Referral Units (FRUs).
  • Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) expanded to 1,424, supported by the MMU Portal launched in 2023.
• India’s Progress Towards SDG Targets
  • NHM's efforts have put India on track to meet U.N. Sustainable Development Goals for maternal, child, and infant mortality well before 2030.