Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad addressed the first meeting of the Mission Steering Group of National Health Mission (NHM), here today.
Speaking at the occasion, Azad said the launch of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) has led to significant improvements in public health systems and health service delivery.
He pointed out specifically the impressive progress on key priorities of NRHM including decline in maternal and child mortality as well as fertility rate; reduction in disease burden of TB and Malaria; focus on the emerging challenge of non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension and cardio-vascular diseases; and completion of three years of being a polio free country as January 13, 2014.
He emphasized that the success of NRHM has encouraged the Central Government to extend coverage to urban areas through a National Urban Health Mission, covering 779 towns and cities.
Azad informed that the implementation framework for the National Health Mission, proposed in consultation with the Planning Commission, has been approved by the Cabinet.
This framework puts in place new principles, strategies and approaches which are based on evidence and aimed at accelerating progress towards achieving the goals, he added.
He, however, expressed his concern over the limited availability of funds for improving public health standards.
