Dr Mansukh Mandaviya chairs 7th meeting of Mission Steering Group for NHM

Newdelhi:7/9/22:Streamlined coordination between Centre and States can bring out the best output in healthcare delivery. The Centre is committed to supporting States through financial and technical resources in efficient and effective implementation of health programmes aimed towards quality healthcare”. This was stated by Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare Dr Mansukh Mandaviya as he chaired the seventh meeting of Mission Steering Group (MSG) of National Health Mission (NHM), here today. The MSG is the apex decision-making body of NHM that takes decisions on policies and program implementation under the Mission. Shri Gajendra Singh Sekhawat, Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Dr Virendra Kumar, Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar, Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare and Dr V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog were among the members who attended the meeting. Secretaries of Ministries of Government of India including MoHFW, AYUSH, DoNER and senior officers from WCD, Drinking Water and Sanitation, Panchayati Raj, Rural Development, Urban Development, Department of Higher Education, Social Justice and Empowerment, Health Secretaries of State Governments and eminent public health professionals also attended the meeting.

Addressing the meeting, Dr Mandaviya noted that India is the only country in the world with a four-layer health infrastructure in place with a 10-lakh strong ASHA workforce at the grassroots. “These powerful foot soldiers of our health force have played a pivotal role in India’s COVID management and COVID vaccination campaigns”. He added that strengthening incentivisation of the healthcare workers who work with communities at the cutting edge can give an impetus to various programmes. He underscored moving ahead with a sharpened focus on timely elimination of diseases such Kala Azar, Leptospirosis etc., as these diseases largely impact the poorest households and communities in the country

.The member Union Ministers appreciated progress made under NHM through focused programmes and support provided to states over the years. Several suggestions were proffered including refinement and monitoring of fund flow from state treasury to districts; ensuring inclusion of left-out populations such as nomads, street dwellers, various divyang persons in PM-JAY scheme; accelerating filling vacancies of technicians and paramedics in health facilities;incentivizing mechanisms; and enhancing the synergy between Centre and states for timely matching fund allocation from the latter.