Strengthening Rural Health: NITI Aayog Proposes 20% Budget Hike for National Health Mission
GS2GS3
A recent NITI Aayog report highlights critical infrastructure gaps in rural primary healthcare and recommends a significant 20% increase in National Health Mission (NHM) funding. The report emphasizes leveraging telemedicine and mobile health clinics to bridge the persistent urban-rural healthcare divide.
NITI Aayog’s latest report, 'State of Healthcare in Rural India,' provides a comprehensive assessment of the challenges and opportunities within India’s rural health ecosystem. Despite various initiatives, the report identifies a persistent 'infrastructure deficit' in primary health centers (PHCs) and community health centers (CHCs), which often lack essential diagnostic tools and specialized manpower.
A central recommendation of the report is a 20% increase in the budgetary allocation for the National Health Mission (NHM). This fiscal boost is envisioned to accelerate the transformation of existing sub-centers into Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centers (AB-HWCs). By strengthening the primary tier, the government aims to reduce the burden on tertiary hospitals and lower out-of-pocket expenditures for rural households, which remains a major cause of poverty in India.
Continue reading — free with login
JeetoBharat publishes daily UPSC current affairs mapped to the Mains syllabus. Log in to read full articles.
Log in to read full articleNo credit card required. Free registered users get unlimited access.
This article was curated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical facts from official sources.