22 percent drop in maternal mortality rates since 2013: Choubey

The 11th CRM team visited 16 states/UTs, of which four were the North-Eastern States, six High Focus States and 6 Non-High Focus States. The terms of reference included service delivery; quality assurance; RMNCH+A; human resources; community processes; information and knowledge; healthcare financing; procurement of drugs, diagnostics and supply chain management; NUHM; and governance and management. The CRM report spans all aspects of health system reform and uses a mix of methods -- including secondary data review, rapid assessment of facilities, and implementer and beneficiary perspectives.

Health Secretary Preeti Sudan termed NHM as a great institutional framework as it helped to assimilate government structures, diverse working conditions and priorities existing in the states. NHM, she said,''provides multi-sectoral flexibility and convergence to the states to implement shared health goals.''She informed that the ministry had undertaken to strengthen Sub Health Centres as Health and Wellness Centres (HWC-SHC) in a phased manner so as to meet the commitment of operationalising 1,50,000 HWC by 2022.

"One of the key elements is the mid-level provider in HWCs. We must focus on training them and enhancing their capacities," she added. Pointing out that the NMC Bill would enable flexibility in hiring manpower in the states, she suggested that NHM needs to look at Anti-microbial Resistance (AMR) especially in SNCUs and should ensure that they are infection free. She also emphasised on the need for developing a specific time-bound strategy for leprosy and kala-azar districts, an official release here said.