Health Minister releases 11th Common Review Mission Report on National Health Mission

“National Health Mission continues to play an important role in strengthening public health systems at the state and sub-district levels, Shri Choubey stated. He was also of the view that state Health Ministers should also be adequately informed about NHM activities as this shall enhance their involvement in the programme.

Smt Preeti Sudan, Secretary (Health & Family Welfare) stated that NHM is a great institutional framework as it helps to assimilate government structures, diverse working conditions and priorities existing in the states. She further added that NHM provides multi-sectoral flexibility and convergence to the States to implement shared health goals.

Smt Preeti Sudan further said that the Ministry has undertaken to strengthen Sub Health Centres as Health and Wellness Centres (HWC-SHC) in a phased manner so as to meet the commitment of operationalizing 1,50,000 HWC by 2022. “One of the key elements is the midlevel provider in HWCs. We must focus on training them and enhancing their capacities,” she added.

She further stated that the NMC Bill will 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 emphasized on the need for developing specific time-bound strategy for leprosy and kala-azar districts.

The 11th CRM team visited 16 States/UTs, of which 4 were the North-Eastern States, 6were High Focus States and 6were Non-High Focus States. The terms of reference include 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.