Foreword

I am very pleased that the document 'India: Guaranteeing quality

primary health care for all – an agenda for action' has been prepared for
consultation with States. Health is a State subject and our approach under
the National Rural Health Mission has been to encourage State level
leadership and ownership of the programme. If NRHM is doing well in most
of the States and UTs today, one major reason is the total sense of
ownership by the States. This document is a further step in that direction.
In partnership with States, an effort has been made to identify the key
areas for action and reform. In doing so, it is our belief that it is possible to
craft a credible public system that is affordable, accessible and
accountable.

The journey of NRHM so far (2005-2008) has been an extremely

interesting one. It has witnessed an unprecedented increase and
improvement in outpatient services, institutional deliveries, immunization
services, diagnostics, emergency ambulance facilities, family welfare
services, and an over all faith in the public system. The guaranteed
availability of doctors, drugs and diagnostics has helped in restoring the
confidence in the public system in many parts of the country.

I am sure this document will lead to useful discussions and further

facilitate the crafting of a credible public system of health care that
provides quality services. It has rightly identified the following seven areas
as the key areas for action:

1. Communitization through decentralization.

2. Human resources for health.
 3. Management of public health system – the system approach for
convergent action.
4. Financing of health care.
5. Monitoring against indian public health standards.
6. Inter sectoral convergence to imapct on wider determinants of
health.
7. Creating capacity for asset creation and maintenace and for
procurement and logistics in a transprent and sustainable way.

NRHM has unleashed an unprecedented interest in the health

sector. It is our belief that sustained attention to the health sector will
help India achieve the ambitious goals of the Mission. It has the potential to
accelerate India's achievement of the Millenium Development Goals
(MDGs). For a country with sustained high rates of economic development
over the last decade, the thrust on social development will make the agenda
for inclusive growth and human development even more real and sustainable.

Naresh Dayal
Secretary
July, 2008 Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
New Delhi. Government of India
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OPD Patients in Bihar

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 No. of Institutional Deliveries

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PHC FACILITIES - TAMIL NADU

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Overview of Fund Release under NRHM

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NATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR CONTROL OF BLINDNESS

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NRHM -

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