Eleventh Meeting of the International Advisory Panel on NRHM Held

The 11th Meeting of the International Advisory Panel (IAP) on National Rural Health Mission was heldin New Delhi on January 31.

The meeting was chaired by ShriP. K. Pradhan, Secretary, Health & Family Welfare. It was attended by members of the IAP and officers of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. 

Chairing the meeting, ShriPradhan saidIndia has achieved substantial progress in providing accessible, equitable and affordable healthcare to people sinceNRHM was launched in 2005.The Mission has been continued in the 12th Five Year Plantoo withspecial focus to the Health sector. The outlay for the health sector has increased by over 3 times as compared to the allocation in Eleventh Five Year Plan.JananiSurakhshaYojana beneficiaries have gone up from 7.8 lakh in 2005-06 to over 1.10 crorein 2011-12.JananiShishuSurakshaKaryakram introduced last year envisages free and cashless services to all pregnant women delivering in government hospitals. Free entitlements are available to all sick newborns till 30 days after birth.

There is consistent reduction of IMR by 3 points every year since 2008. Latest IMR as per SRS, 2011 is 44. Annual rate of decline of IMR which was merely 1.7% in 2006 has accelerated to 6.38%, a 3.76 times improvement. Annual rate of decline of U5 MR has also accelerated. U5 MR has come down from 69 in 2008 to 59 in 2010.TFR has reduced from 2.9 in 2005 to 2.5 in 2010. All the six very high focus states have shown a decline equal to or better than national average.Reduction in MMR is also expected to be substantial when next survey results are made available by RGI. Empowered Action Group (EAG) States have registered a decline better than or at least equal to the National average in MMR, IMR & TFR.