National Urban Health Mission Formulated as a Sub-Mission under National Health Mission (NHM)

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in April 2013 formulated National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) as a Sub-Mission under National Health Mission (NHM) which is supposed to be launched during the 12th Five Year Plan.

The basic purpose to launch National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) is to address healthcare needs of urban population, particularly urban poor.

It is important here to note that launch National Urban Health Mission was a listed scheme under 11th Five Year Plan with an approved outlay of 4500 crores Rupees and Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) also approved the scheme in its meeting held on 12 September2008. Conversely the scheme could not be launched.

Aim and Objectives of the National Urban Health Mission

• National Urban Health Mission is directed towards improving 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).

• The National Urban Health Mission is intended to cover 779 cities and town including 7 metros with population of fifty thousand and above.

• An amount of15143 crores rupees has been approved for the 12th Five Year Plan 2012-17by the Planning Commission whereas the Ministry proposed 16955 crore rupees for NUHM during 12th FYP. However for the year 2013-14 approved outlay for NUHM is 1.00 crore only.