The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, in a written response to the Rajya Sabha, highlighted the extensive measures undertaken by the government to bolster healthcare accessibility and quality through the National Health Mission (NHM) and the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY).

The NHM, comprising the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM), aims to strengthen the public healthcare system by providing accessible, affordable, and high-quality healthcare services. Under NHM, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare offers technical and financial support to States and Union Territories, supplementing their efforts to enhance public health infrastructure and services. This support is tailored to the needs outlined by States and UTs in their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) and within their allocated resources.

Key initiatives under NHM include the operationalization of Ayushman Arogya Mandir, National Ambulance Services, Mobile Medical Units, and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs). Services such as 24x7 healthcare facilities, First Referral Units, the Prime Minister's National Dialysis Programme, Free Diagnostics and Drugs Services, and reproductive and child health programs are pivotal in improving healthcare delivery. Other significant campaigns, including the Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) strategy, Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (PMTBMBA), and the Universal Immunization Programme, continue to address critical health challenges across the country.

The Ministry reported significant progress in achieving key health targets outlined in the National Health Policy. Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) decreased from 103 per 100,000 live births in 2017-2019 to 97 per 100,000 live births in 2018-2020, surpassing the target of 100 by 2020. Similarly, the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) dropped from 32 per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 28 per 1,000 live births in 2020, achieving the target set for 2019. The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) also fell from 2.2 in 2015-16 (NFHS-4) to 2.0 in 2019-21 (NFHS-5), ahead of the target of 2.1 set for 2025.

Complementing the NHM, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) addresses financial barriers to healthcare for economically disadvantaged populations. As of December 12, 2024, over 36.16 crore Ayushman Cards have been issued to beneficiaries, including 29.87 crore cards for rural residents. The scheme provides a family floater benefit cover of ₹5,00,000 per year for a range of medical treatments, covering expenses related to drugs, diagnostics, physician fees, and hospital charges, including ICU and surgical costs.

Through these initiatives, the government continues to make significant strides in improving healthcare outcomes and reducing disparities in healthcare access across rural and urban regions. The NHM and PMJAY serve as pillars of India’s healthcare framework, ensuring that quality medical care is within reach for all citizens.