To address healthcare needs of urban population, particularly urban poor, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has formulated National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) as a Sub-Mission under an over-arching National Health Mission (NHM) to be launched during the 12th Five Year Plan.
It may be recalled that NUHM was a listed scheme under 11th Five Year Plan with an approved outlay of Rs. 4500 crores and Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) also approved the scheme in its meeting held on 12th September, 2008. However the scheme could not be launched.
The proposed NUHM aims to improve the health status of the urban population particularly slum dwellers and other vulnerable sections by facilitating equitable access to quality healthcare with the active involvement of the urban local bodies (ULBs). It proposes to cover 779 cities and town including 7 metros with population of fifty thousand and above.
The proposal of National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) under an overarching National Health Mission (NHM) was discussed in the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) under the Chairmanship of the Finance Secretary and Secretary (Expenditure) on 9th October 2012. The EFC meeting recommended the proposal for approval of the Cabinet with recommendation of Rs.22,507.21 crores during the 12th Five Year Plan with central share of Rs. 16,955 crores.
Cabinet note on NUHM was sent to Cabinet Secretariat on 24th January, 2013 for placing the same before the Cabinet for consideration and approval. Cabinet considered the proposal relating to NUHM in its meeting held on 21st February, 2013. However the agenda item was postponed.
For the 12th Five Year Plan 2012-17, an amount of Rs.15,143 crores has been approved by the Planning Commission whereas the Ministry proposed Rs.16,955 crore for NUHM during 12th FYP. However for the year 2013-14 approved outlay for NUHM is Rs.1.00 crore only.
The Union Cabinet gave its approval to launch a National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) as a new sub-mission under the over-arching National Health Mission (NHM) on May 1st, 2013. Under the Scheme the following proposals have been approved:
- One Urban Primary Health Centre (U-PHC) for every fifty to sixty thousand population.
- One Urban Community Health Centre (U-CHC) for five to six U-PHCs in big cities.
- One Auxiliary Nursing Midwives (ANM) for 10,000 population.
- One Accredited Social Health Activist ASHA (community link worker) for 200 to 500 households
The estimated cost of NUHM for 5 years period is Rs.22,507 crore with the Central Government share of Rs.16,955 crore. Centre-State funding pattern will be 75:25 except for North Eastern states and other special category states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand for whom the funding pattern will be 90:10.
The scheme will focus on primary health care needs of the urban poor. This Mission will be implemented in 779 cities and towns with more than 50,000 population and cover about 7.75 crore people.
The interventions under the sub-mission will result in
- Reduction in Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)
- Reduction in Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR)
- Universal access to reproductive health care
- Convergence of all health related interventions.
The existing institutional mechanism and management systems created and functioning under NRHM will be strengthened to meet the needs of NUHM. Citywise implementation plans will be prepared based on baseline survey and felt need. Urban local bodies will be fully involved in implementation of the scheme.
NUHM aims to improve the health status of the urban population in general, particularly the poor and other disadvantaged sections by facilitating equitable access to quality health care, through a revamped primary public health care system, targeted outreach services and involvement of the community and urban local bodies.
