Achievements of National Health Mission
Context:
The National Health Mission (NHM) has emerged as a cornerstone of India’s public health advancements, contributing significantly to reducing maternal mortality, tuberculosis (TB) incidence, and sickle cell anemia while expanding human resources and fostering an integrated response to health emergencies.
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- In an assessment report (2021–2024) presented to the Union Cabinet on January 22, 2025, the Central Government highlighted the NHM’s key achievements over the past three years, emphasising its role in transforming healthcare delivery at the grassroots level.
National Health Mission (NHM)
It is a flagship program launched by the Government of India in 2013, aiming to enhance healthcare access and improve public health outcomes across the country. It subsumed the earlier National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and National Urban Health Mission (NUHM), focusing on providing equitable, affordable, and quality healthcare services.
Key Components of NHM:
- Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A): Initiatives like Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) aim to improve maternal and child health.
- Communicable Diseases Control: Focus on diseases such as tuberculosis (TB), malaria, leprosy, and HIV/AIDS through programs like the National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP).
- Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs): Screening and management initiatives for diabetes, hypertension, and cancer through the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Stroke (NPCDCS).
- Urban Health: The NUHM component focuses on improving health services in urban areas.
- Health System Strengthening: Enhancing healthcare infrastructure and human resources across states.
Funding Mechanism:
- The NHM is financed through a cost-sharing model between the central government and states:
- The funding ratio is typically 60:40, with a higher share of 90:10 for northeastern states.
Strengthening Healthcare Workforce
According to the report, the mission facilitated the engagement of:
- 2.69 lakh healthcare workers in FY 2021–22, including general duty medical officers, specialists, staff nurses, AYUSH doctors, allied healthcare workers, public health managers, and 90,740 community health officers (CHOs).
- 4.21 lakh additional workers in FY 2022–23, with 1.29 lakh CHOs.
- 5.23 lakh healthcare professionals in FY 2023–24, including 1.38 lakh CHOs.
Milestones in Maternal and Child Health
The NHM has been instrumental in reducing maternal and child mortality, achieving outcomes that surpass global averages:
- The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) declined by 83% since 1990, compared to the global decline of 45%.
- The Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) fell from 45 per 1,000 live births in 2014 to 32 in 2020, reflecting a 75% reduction since 1990, compared to the global reduction of 60%.
- The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) dropped from 39 per 1,000 live births in 2014 to 28 in 2020.
- The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) decreased from 2.3 in 2015 to 2.0 in 2020, as per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5).
These indicators suggest India is well-positioned to meet its U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets for maternal, child, and infant mortality ahead of the 2030 deadline.
Progress in Disease Elimination
The NHM has also achieved significant success in combating infectious diseases:
- The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) reduced from 237 cases per 1,00,000 population in 2015 to 195 in 2023, while the mortality rate dropped from 28 to 22 in the same period.
- Efforts against malaria led to a 13.28% decline in cases and a 3.22% reduction in deaths in 2021 compared to 2020.
- The kala-azar elimination target was achieved, with all endemic blocks recording fewer than one case per 10,000 population by the end of 2023.
- The Measles-Rubella Elimination Campaign under Intensified Mission Indradhanush 5.0 vaccinated over 34.77 crore children, achieving 97.98% coverage.
Through its holistic approach, the National Health Mission has transformed India’s public health landscape, addressing longstanding challenges and building resilience against health emergencies.
