To address healthcare needs of urban population, particularly urban poor, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has formulated National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) as a Sub-Mission under an over-arching National Health Mission (NHM) to be launched during the 12th Five Year Plan.
It may be recalled that NUHM was a listed scheme under 11th Five Year Plan with an approved outlay of Rs.4500 crores and Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) also approved the scheme in its meeting held on 12th September, 2008. However the scheme could not be launched.
The proposed NUHM aims to improve the health status of the urban population particularly slum dwellers and other vulnerable sections by facilitating equitable access to quality healthcare with the active involvement of the urban local bodies (ULBs). It proposes to cover 779 cities and town including 7 metros with population of fifty thousand and above.
The proposal of National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) under an overarching National Health Mission (NHM) was discussed in the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) under the Chairmanship of the Finance Secretary and Secretary (Expenditure) on 9th October 2012. The EFC meeting recommended the proposal for approval of the Cabinet with recommendation of Rs.22,507.21 crores during the 12th Five Year Plan with central share of Rs. 16,955 crores.
Cabinet note on NUHM was sent to Cabinet Secretariat on 24th January, 2013 for placing the same before the Cabinet for consideration and approval. Cabinet considered the proposal relating to NUHM in its meeting held on 21st February, 2013. However the agenda item was postponed.
For the 12th Five Year Plan 2012-17, an amount of Rs.15,143 crores has been approved by the Planning Commission whereas the Ministry proposed Rs.16,955 crore for NUHM during 12th FYP. However for the year 2013-14 approved outlay for NUHM is Rs.1.00 crore only.
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