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Thursday, Dec 27, 2007
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Thrust on health in XI Plan

Special Correspondent

Sarva Swasthya Abhiyan will have components of NRHM, NUHM

NEW DELHI: The 11th Five Year Plan aims at inclusive growth by introducing Sarva Swasthya Abhiyan that will find solutions for strengthening the health services and focus on neglected areas and groups.

The Sarva Swasthya Abhiyan will have components of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) that was launched in 2005 to meet the needs of all age groups and reduce the disease burden across rural India and the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) that will be launched to meet the unmet needs of the urban poor.

According to the 2001 census, 4.26 crore people lived in urban slums, spread over 640 towns and cities, and their number was growing.

The NUHM, based on health insurance and public-private partnership, will provide integrated health service delivery to the urban poor. Initially, the focus will be on urban slums. It will be aligned with the NRHM and existing urban schemes.

The 11th Plan also envisages a range of services under the National Programme for Older Persons to improve the access to promotive, preventive, curative and emergency healthcare for older people.

Home service

A home health service, entailing home visits to detect health problems, and as a psychological support by health personnel sensitised on such issues will be introduced. Also, a community-based health centre for the aged for educational and preventive activity will be initiated. This will be integrated with the NRHM and an allocation made specifically for geriatric care.

The Accredited Social Health Activist will be trained in geriatric care and the out-patient medical service, which serves as the base for home health service, will be enhanced.

Finally, an improved hospital-based support service, focussing on their healthcare needs, will also be made for widows and a few centres on geriatric health will focus only on elderly women.

The government will develop two National Institutes for Research in Ageing and Health, one in the North and another in South. The prevalence and incidence of diseases, as well as hospitalisation rates, are much higher in older people than the general population.

As many as 8 per cent of older Indians are confined to their home or bed and women are more frequently afflicted with immobility, according to the Plan, endorsed by the National Development Council last week.

During the 11th Plan, a few pilot projects will be taken up which will eventually be upscaled and integrated with the NRHM and the NUHM, depending upon the success and experienced gained. These relate to sports medicine, deafness, leptospirosis control, human rabies, organ transplant, flourosis and disability and medical rehabilitation.

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