The Government of India released ₹527.58 crore to West Bengal as the first installment of its total ₹3,505.59 crore allocation under the National Health Mission (NHM). Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda held a virtual review meeting with West Bengal’s Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari to evaluate healthcare infrastructure and fast-track structural schemes. The discussion centered on standardizing rural and urban health delivery by resolving a long-standing impasse through a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY. Key health goals identified include expanding Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, intensifying the TB Mukt Bharat campaign, and boosting maternal and child immunization programs across the state.
Core Financial and Strategic Developments
NHM Fund Allocation Mechanics
The financial release consists of an initial tranche of ₹527.58 crore out of the total state allotment of ₹3,505.59 crore. The fund transfer aims to ensure steady cash flows for primary and secondary healthcare operations in West Bengal. NHM funds follow a Center-State cost-sharing ratio of 60:40 for general category states.
Direct Policy Interventions
- Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY integration: The state government agreed to sign the standard MoU for the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), ensuring co-branding and standard operating procedures for cashless tertiary care.
- PM-ABHIM Implementation: The leadership reviewed the progress of the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), prioritizing the construction of critical care hospital blocks and integrated district public health laboratories.
- Targeted Health Campaigns: State health departments will launch comprehensive HPV vaccination drives for adolescent girls to prevent cervical cancer and strengthen active case-finding under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP).
Structural Architecture of Centrally Sponsored Health Schemes
National Health Mission (NHM)
The NHM encompasses two primary sub-missions: the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM). It focuses on reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (RMNCH+A) services, alongside communicable and non-communicable disease control.
Ayushman Bharat Pillars
The overarching Ayushman Bharat architecture functions through two primary modalities:
- Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs): Transformed primary health centers and sub-centers providing comprehensive primary healthcare, free essential medicines, and diagnostic services.
- PM-JAY: The world’s largest government-funded health assurance scheme providing a health cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to vulnerable households.
Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM)
This pan-India scheme builds long-term biosecurity and public health infrastructure. It funds the establishment of critical care blocks in districts, strengthens the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and establishes metropolitan surveillance units to manage future pandemic risks.
Overview of National Healthcare Schemes in India
| Scheme | Type | Core Objective | Funding Pattern (Center:State) |
| National Health Mission (NHM) | Centrally Sponsored | Strengthening public health systems, maternal-child health, and disease control. | 60:40 (General States) / 90:10 (NE and Himalayan States) |
| PM-JAY | Centrally Sponsored | Providing ₹5 lakh per family annual health insurance for secondary and tertiary hospitalization. | 60:40 (General States) / 90:10 (NE and Himalayan States) |
| PM-ABHIM | Centrally Sponsored | Filling critical gaps in public health infrastructure, surveillance, and health research laboratories. | 60:40 (General States) / 90:10 (NE and Himalayan States) |
| Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) | Central Sector | Developing the backbone necessary to support the integrated digital health infrastructure of India. | 100% Central Funding |
Critical Healthcare Delivery Indicators Under Review
Maternal and Child Health Targets
The implementation review emphasized reducing the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) through the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK). These initiatives mandate free institutional delivery and cashless transport for pregnant women.
Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)
The joint initiative mandates a push for Mission Indradhanush across lagging blocks in West Bengal. This program targets unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children, providing protection against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases nationally.
Disease Elimination Strategy
The TB Mukt Bharat campaign emphasizes decentralized nutritional support via the Ni-kshay Mitra initiative. It seeks to eliminate Tuberculosis by 2025, five years ahead of the global Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of 2030.
IASPOINT Booster Facts for UPSC
- Constitutional Provision for Health: Public health, sanitation, hospitals, and dispensaries fall under Entry 6 of State List (List II) of the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution. However, economic and social planning, which covers major health programs, falls under the Concurrent List (List III).
- HPV Vaccine Specifics: India’s first indigenous quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus (qHPV) vaccine is called CERVAVAC, developed by the Serum Institute of India. It targets cervical cancer caused by prevalent HPV types.
- Co-branding Policy of AB-HWCs: The Central Government mandates the naming of Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centers as ‘Ayushman Arogya Mandir’ with the tagline ‘Arogyam Paramam Dhanam’. Compliance with these guidelines is a prerequisite for the release of performance-linked NHM funds.
- National Health Policy (NHP) 2017 Targets: The policy aims to elevate government health expenditure to 2.5% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in a phased manner and seeks to increase life expectancy at birth to 70 years.
- The Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) Financing: JJSY is a 100% centrally sponsored scheme integrating cash assistance with delivery and post-delivery care. It focuses heavily on Low-Performing States (LPS) to encourage institutional deliveries.