| Aims |
| The National Rural Health Mission aims at providing accessible, affordable, effective, accountable, and reliable healthcare to all citizens and in particular to the poorer and vulnerable sections of the population; consistent with the outcomes envisioned in the Millennium Development Goals and general principles laid down in the National and State policies, including the National Health Policy, 2002, and National Population Policy, 2000. |
| The ‘architectural correction’ of the health sector is a key objective for the NRHM, to be carried out through integration of vertical programs and structures; delegation and decentralization of authority; involvement of Panchayati Raj Institutions and other supportive policy reform measures in the areas of medical education, public health management, incorporation of Indian Systems of Medicine, regulation of healthcare providers, and new health financing mechanisms. |
| Objectives(8) |
Reduction in child and maternal mortality Universal access to public services for food and nutrition, sanitation and hygiene, and elimination by universal access to public healthcare services, with emphasis on services addressing women's and children's health and universal immunization Prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases including locally endemic diseases Access to integrated comprehensive primary health care Population stabilization, gender and demographic balance Revitalize local health traditions and mainstream AYUSH Promotion of healthy life styles |
| Strategies |
| A. Core |
Decentralized village and district level health planning and management Appointment of Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) to facilitate access to health services Strengthening the public health service delivery infrastructure Mainstreaming of AYUSH Improved management capacity to organize health systems and services in public health Promoting non-profit sector to increase social participation and community empowerment, healthy behavior and inter-sectoral convergence |
| B. Supplementary |
Regulation of the private sector, to improve equity and reduce out-of-pocket expenses Foster public private partnerships to meet national public health goals Reorientation of medical education Introduction of effective risk pooling mechanisms and social insurance to raise the health security of the poor, taking full advantage of local health traditions |
