The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on July 12 urged the state governments of northeastern states to activate their functioning for better output and service from National Health Mission (NHM).

Addressing the planning meeting of NHM on July 12, Joint Secretary (Policy) MoHFW Dr Mahohar Agnani said, three states of northeast – Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya did not give matching share on time in last years that affects the release of fund from the centre, which ultimately affected NHM works. “Many a times, we get the complain of delay in releasing fund to Northeast but fact is the state matching grant of 10 per cent of the total allocation doesn’t give on time. Moreover, utilization certificates are sending always late and high unspent balance of fund under NHM component,” Dr Agnani said.

He opined funding for northeastern states has not been an issue for the central government but efficiency of NHMs of the states needs to be enhanced. In the current financial year also the budget allocation for both NHM and Health Service has been increased by 14 per cent and 11 per cent respectively in the central budget and for northeast both was increased 10 per cent more that previous year.

Appreciating Assam and Mizoram for improving infant mortality rate, he suggested other states of the region to improve the works in the health mission to achieve the health indicators, as NHM has given the liberty to the states to use the fund according to their requirements even for the infrastructure development.

To ensure comprehensive healthcare at primary health centre level under Ayushman Bharat, Dr Agnani said that Prime Minister has set a target to immunize 90 per cent children by December this year to assure healthy life and wellbeing for them and for northeast MoHFW targeted to immunize at least 85 per cent children within deadline.