WE THE PEOPLE
Despite NRHM envisaging improvement to health-care, Disease control Programmes have failed to achieve Targets
Hence People urge Govt., to implement Scheme to ensure basic facilities to J&K Patients
By: Mirror News Service
Srinagar: It may be mentioned that National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) was launched in April 2005 by the Government of India (GOI) throughout the country to provide integrated health-care services to the rural population, especially the poor and vulnerable sections of the society. The objectives of the Mission, to be achieved during the period 2005-12, include provisions of accessible, affordable, accountable and reliable health-care facilities in the rural areas; involving community in planning and monitoring.
It aimed at reduction in child and maternal mortality and total fertility rate for population stabilization; prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases, including locally endemic diseases; revitalizing local health traditions and mainstreaming AYUSH and promotion of healthy life styles.
The Scheme further aims to bridge the gaps in rural health-care through increased community ownership, decentralization of the programmes, inter-sectoral convergence and improved primary health-care. It further envisages increasing expenditure on health, with a focus on primary health-care, from the level of 0.9 per cent of GDP (1999) to two to three per cent of GDP over the Mission period (2005-2012). It is encouraging to learn that Jammu and Kashmir is one of the 'high focus' States under the Mission.
In all states, the Mission is implemented under the overall guidance of the State Health Mission (SHM), headed by the Chief Minister. The activities are carried out in the State by the State Health Society (SHS). The Governing Body of the SHS, headed by the Chief Secretary, is responsible for approval/endorsement, review of implementation of Annual State Action Plans, inter-sectoral coordination, etc. The Executive Committee of the SHS, headed by the Principal Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department is responsible for approval of proposals received from districts and other implementing agencies, execution of the approved Action Plans including release of funds for the programmes. The State Programme Management Support Unit (SPMSU) acts as the Secretariat to the SHM as well as the SHS and is headed by a Mission Director. The SPMSU includes technical experts like Chartered Accountants, Masters of Business Administration and Management Information System specialists.
To know its percolation level, a mid-term review of the implementation of the programme was undertaken to highlight the areas of concern and issues that need to be addressed for successful achievement of the objectives set out for the Mission. Performance review of the Mission activities during the period 2005-09 has shown that implementation plans were not based on proper surveys; basic facilities were lacking in a large number of health centres and various maternal/child health programmes and disease control programmes were not performing to the targeted levels.
A close study of the Scheme has revealed that household survey had not been conducted and base line survey was conducted partially. The State level and annual programme implementation plans were prepared without any inputs from districts, defeating the purpose of decentralized planning.
It has also come to surface that no new Health Centre was constructed in the State. Basic facilities were also not available in many of the Health Centres. Though OPD services were running on daily basis, IPD, emergency, diagnostic and blood storage facilities were partial. Mobile medical units had not been procured, affecting targeted improvement of health-care service in remote/difficult areas.
Shortage of manpower against requirement as per sanctioned strength and NRHM norms ranged between 6 and 91 per cent in SCs, 6 and 100 per cent in PHCs and 6 and 94 per cent in CHCs.
Hence People urge Govt., to implement Scheme to ensure basic facilities to J&K Patients. (To be continued)
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