Achievement of Universal Health Care Goal

The Government of India is implementing a number of programmes to achieve the goal of universal health care. The most important of these is the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), whose main activity is to support states to upgrade their public health facilities to deliver essential health care services. The NRHM has laid down an Indian Public Health Standard (IPHS) for public health facilities- and now finances the states to achieve these standards. This includes support for closing infrastructure gaps, more human resources with necessary skills and provision of the necessary equipment's, drugs and supplies.

There has been increased public spending primarily in rural areas and EAG and N-E states after the launch of NRHM,  on health systems strengthening, infrastructure development, increased human resource for health, capacity building, communalization, Mobile Medical Units (MMU) and patient transport systems, drugs and supplies, RCH interventions including JSY and JSSK etc.

Free and universal health care is being provided for a range of health care services, as mentioned below:

•      Free Maternal Health services

Ø  Antenatal check ups including free investigations and IFA supplementation

Ø  Post natal care

Ø  Safe abortion services

Ø  RTI/STI services including investigations and treatment

•      Free Child Health services

Ø  Home Based New born Care

Ø  Facility Based New born Care

Ø  Nutritional rehabilitation

Ø  Supplementation, IFA and Vitamin A

Ø  Diarrhea management including free ORS and Zinc

Ø  Pneumonia management including antibiotics

Ø  Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)

Ø  Guarantees free vaccination of children against 7 diseases

Ø  Free vaccination (TT) to pregnant women

Ø  Basket of vaccines being expanded e.g. Pentavalent, JE

•      Free Adolescent  Health services

Ø  Adolescent friendly services through ARSH Clinics

Ø  WIFS (Weekly Supplementation of Iron and Folic Acid with Deworming)

Ø  Sanitary napkins for Menstrual hygiene (in 107 districts, being scaled up)

Ø  Universal screening of children in govt./aided schools and referral support

•      Family Planning

Ø  Free services including information, supplies and sterilization

•      Communicable Diseases

Ø  Free investigation and treatment for Malaria, Kala azar, Filaria, Dengue, JE and Chikungunya

Ø  Free detection and treatment for Tuberculosis including MDR-TB

Ø  Free detection and treatment for Leprosy

Ø  Free detection, treatment and counselling for HIV/AIDS

•      Non Communicable Diseases

Ø  Free Cataract surgery for Blindness control

Ø  Free Cornea transplant

Ø  Free Glaucoma/ Diabetic Retinopathy

Ø  Free spectacles to children (BPL only)

Ø  Free screening for NCDs (in pilot phase)

•      JananiShishuSurakshaKaryakram (JSSK)

Ø  An initiative launched on 1st June 2011

Ø  Guarantees free and no expense delivery including C-section in public health facilities

Ø  Entitlements include free to and fro transport,

Ø  Free drugs, consumables, diagnostics, blood and diet

Ø  Similar guarantees for sick neonates

Rs. 2,060 Crores provided to States for 2012-13 under NRHM

Another major step forward under this programme is to guarantee a publicly financed emergency response and patient transport ambulance services. Over 12,000 such ambulances are now financed nationwide and all of these provide cashless transport facilities to patients including those in life threatening emergencies.

            State/UTs are also being supported to provide free essential drugs to patients visiting public health facilities.

The basket of services under the universal health care is constantly on the rise with increased support under NRHM