The Union Cabinet on Wednesday was apprised on the progress made under the National Health Mission (NHM), including accelerated decline in Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Under Five Mortality Rate (U5MR) and Total Fertility Rate (TFR).
The Cabinet also took note of the progress made in respect of various disease programmes like tuberculosis, malaria, kala-azar, dengue, leprosy, viral hepatitis, etc. and new initiatives undertaken such as National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission.
The NHM reported an increase in healthcare workers engaged over three fiscal years. In 2021-22, 2.69 lakh additional workers, including medical officers, specialists, staff nurses, AYUSH doctors, and others, were engaged, along with 90,740 Community Health Officers (CHOs). This expanded to 4.21 lakh workers, including 1.29 lakh CHOs, in 2022-23, and 5.23 lakh workers, with 1.38 lakh CHOs, in 2023-24. These measures have enhanced healthcare delivery at the grassroots level.
Under NHM’s framework, India administered over 220 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses between January 2021 and March 2024. The India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Package was implemented in two phases to strengthen healthcare systems during the pandemic.
Key health indicators showed improvements. The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) declined to 97 per lakh live births in 2018-20, a 25% reduction from 2014-16. The Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) decreased to 32 per 1,000 live births in 2020, and the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) dropped to 28 per 1,000 live births in the same period. The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) declined to 2.0 by 2020.
Disease elimination programs reported progress. The tuberculosis (TB) incidence rate reduced to 195 per 1,00,000 population in 2023 from 237 in 2015, while the mortality rate dropped from 28 to 22 during the same period. Malaria-related deaths decreased by 7.77% in 2022 compared to 2021. Kala-azar was eliminated in 100% of endemic blocks by 2023, achieving a target of less than one case per 10,000 population.
Other health initiatives included the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, supporting 9.40 lakh TB patients through 1.56 lakh volunteers, and the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme, which facilitated 62.35 lakh hemodialysis sessions in 2023-24, benefiting over 4.53 lakh dialysis patients. The National Sickle Cell Anemia Elimination Mission screened 2.61 crore individuals in tribal areas by 2023.
Digital health platforms such as U-WIN, launched in January 2023, improved vaccine tracking and coverage across 65 districts by March 2024. Additionally, 7,998 public health facilities received certification, and operational Ayushman Arogya Mandir centers increased to 1,72,148, with 1,34,650 providing 12 essential healthcare services.
NHM has also addressed pressing public health concerns such as tobacco use and snakebite envenoming. Through sustained public awareness campaigns and enforcement of tobacco control laws, NHM has contributed to a 17.3% reduction in tobacco use over the past decade.
Since its inception as the National Rural Health Mission in 2005 and its rechristening as the NHM in 2012 to include urban healthcare, the initiative has consistently focused on providing accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare to vulnerable populations. With its comprehensive achievements, the NHM continues to be a cornerstone of India’s public health landscape.