|
Parliamentary Panel asks health ministry to extend NAM scheme for five more years
|
|
Gireesh Babu, New Delhi
February 18 , 2025
|
|
|
Raising concerns over the slow pace of creating integrated Ayush hospitals nationwide, a Parliamentary Panel that reviewed the centrally sponsored scheme of National Ayush Mission (NAM) under the Ministry of Ayush has recommended extension of time period of the Mission for another five years to achieve the set targets.
The Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare, in the 162nd report on the action taken by the government on its recommendations in a previous report, on review of National Ayush Mission, has also asked the Ministry to address aspects such as "strengthening manpower and training, establishing research networks and enhancing community engagement as well and furnish a complete action taken note."
The Panel observed that one of NAM's primary components is providing Ayush Services and a decade after the launch of the scheme, the Committee is concerned about the slow progress in creating integrated Ayush hospitals nationwide. Only 39 of the 167 approved hospitals are operational, which is just 23.35% of the sanctioned facilities.
"Hence, the Committee urges a more proactive and result-driven approach to accelerate the establishment of integrated Ayush hospitals, given the rising demand for holistic healthcare," said the panel headed by Member of Rajya Sabha Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav, in its latest report.
"Further, the Committee still feels that the extension of time period of NAM for another 5 years would be required to achieve the set targets in a realistic (manner) and recommends accordingly," it added.
It may be noted that the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in July 2021, has approved the continuation of NAM as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2026 with financial implication of Rs. 4,607.30 crore (Rs. 3,000 crore as Central share and Rs. 1,607.30 crore as state share). The Mission was launched on September 15, 2014.
In its previous report, the Panel noted that the scheme has provisioned for the establishment of Ayush hospitals, dispensaries, and Health and Wellness Centres across the length and breadth of the country. However, it raised concern that more than 69% of the integrated Ayush hospitals approved under NAM are still either under construction or the construction has not started yet.
Similarly, only about 65 per cent of the sanctioned A-HWCs have been established. Observing that there are still important milestones and targets to be achieved under the Mission, it during then recommended the Ministry to extend the scheme at least five more years beyond FY24.
In its action taken report, the ministry of health and family welfare has said that the Ministry of Ayush has approved 167 integrated Ayush hospitals from 2014-15 to 2023-24 and 39 of these are functional, while construction has been completed for seven, 99 are under construction and construction for 22 are not started.
It also informed that the Ministry of Ayush has approved 12,500 Ayushman Arogya Mandir from 2019-20 to 2023-24 and according to the state and Union territory government reports, 12,121 units are functional. Various regional and central review meetings are held to review the progress of NAM, and the Centre is hand holding the states and Union territories for smooth implementation, it added.
The Panel, in its previous report, also recommended the Ministry to develop clinical research infrastructure such as strengthening of manpower and training, establishing research networks, standardisation of protocols and interventions, community engagement, and evidence recording.
The Ministry responded that during different Regional Review Meetings under National Ayush Mission, autonomous organizations under Ministry of Ayush like Research Councils and their peripheral institutes and National Institutes have been asked to provide their active support for the effective implementation ongoing activities/programmes of the National Ayush Mission (NAM) in the states/UTs especially for capacity building and training of State Programme Management Unit (SPMU)/Community Health Officer (CHO), Telemedicine- hub and spoke model, Ayush Public Health Programmes etc.
It also updated the Panel on the efforts to conduct geriatric health camps across states and Union territories and the works for standardisation of protocols and intervention.
Taking a note of these developments, the Panel, in its latest report, recommended the Ministry to address the aspect like strengthening manpower and training, establishing research networks and enhancing community engagement as well and furnish a complete action taken note.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOPICS
|
That foods might provide therapeutic benefits is clearly not a new concept. ...
|
|
|
|
|