National Urban Health Mission, Objectives, Features, Coverage

The National Urban Health Mission is a government initiative aimed at improving healthcare services for people living in urban areas, especially the poor and vulnerable sections of society. It focuses on making affordable and quality healthcare easily accessible in cities and towns through better hospitals, health centers, and community participation. The mission also works to improve maternal and child health, control diseases, and promote awareness about hygiene and healthy living.

About National Urban Health Mission

• The National Urban Health Mission was launched in May 2013 as a sub-mission of the National Health Mission by the Government of India. The mission was introduced to improve healthcare facilities in urban areas, especially for poor and vulnerable people living in slums and overcrowded settlements. 
• Rapid urbanization has increased pressure on health services in cities, leading to problems such as poor sanitation, spread of diseases, malnutrition, and lack of affordable treatment. NUHM was launched to address these challenges and ensure better access to healthcare for urban populations.
• The mission mainly focuses on providing affordable, accessible, and quality primary healthcare services to urban poor households.
• NUHM also works towards improving maternal and child healthcare, controlling communicable and non-communicable diseases, and spreading awareness about hygiene, nutrition, and healthy lifestyles.

National Urban Health Mission Objectives

• To provide essential primary healthcare services to the urban population, especially the poor and vulnerable sections.
• To reduce Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in urban areas.
• To reduce out-of-pocket expenditure on medical treatment through affordable public healthcare facilities.
• To strengthen urban healthcare infrastructure and improve service delivery systems.
• To encourage community participation in planning, implementation, and monitoring of health programmes.
• To improve coordination between healthcare services and sectors such as sanitation, drinking water, housing, education, and nutrition.
• To address health risks caused by rapid urban population growth and unhealthy living conditions.

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National Urban Health Mission Key Features

• Urban Health Infrastructure
  • Establishes Urban Primary Health Centres (U-PHCs) and Urban Community Health Centres (U-CHCs) to provide healthcare services close to communities.
  • Strengthens existing government hospitals and dispensaries in urban areas.
• Outreach and Community Participation
  • Health workers like ASHAs and ANMs conduct awareness programmes, immunization drives, and health check-ups in communities.
  • Local communities are encouraged to participate in health planning and monitoring.
• Vulnerability Mapping
  • Uses surveys and mapping techniques to identify slums and high-risk populations that require urgent healthcare support.
• Partnership with NGOs and Private Sector
  • Encourages cooperation with NGOs, private hospitals, and charitable organizations for better healthcare delivery.
• Focus on Preventive Healthcare
  • Promotes sanitation, nutrition, vaccination, family planning, and disease prevention activities.
• Funding Pattern
  • NUHM is jointly funded by the Central and State Governments. For most states, the funding ratio is 75:25 between the Centre and the State. For North-Eastern and special category states, the funding ratio is 90:10. Programme Implementation Plans prepared by states are approved by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• Target Beneficiaries
  • Focuses on slum dwellers, migrants, homeless people, daily wage workers, women, children, and other vulnerable groups.
• Coverage Area
  • The National Urban Health Mission covers cities and towns with a population above 50,000, focusing mainly on slums and other areas where poor and vulnerable urban populations live, while smaller towns are covered under National Rural Health Mission.

National Urban Health Mission Important Components

• Population Stabilization and Family Welfare
  • NUHM supports family welfare and reproductive healthcare services in line with the National Population Policy. It aims to reduce Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), and improve overall reproductive and child healthcare services in urban areas.
• Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh (JSK)
  • Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh (JSK) is a population stabilization fund that supports awareness programmes and initiatives related to family planning and reproductive health. It also helps in promoting healthy family practices and population stabilization measures across the country.
• GIS Mapping
  • The mission uses vulnerability mapping and Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to identify slums and high-risk urban areas that lack healthcare facilities. This helps the government target resources and services more effectively and ensure that healthcare reaches the people who need it the most.

National Urban Health Mission Significance

• Improves access to affordable and quality healthcare for urban poor and vulnerable groups by bringing essential services closer to where they live.
• Reduces out-of-pocket medical expenses by providing free or low-cost treatment through government health facilities.
• Addresses health challenges in slums and overcrowded areas where poor sanitation and living conditions increase disease risk.
• Strengthens primary healthcare infrastructure by establishing Urban Primary Health Centres (U-PHCs) and improving existing facilities.
• Promotes preventive healthcare through immunization, nutrition awareness, sanitation, and early disease detection.
• Bridges the gap in healthcare access between rich and poor urban populations, ensuring more equitable services.
• Encourages community participation and awareness, leading to better health-seeking behaviour among people.