In a move that could help strengthen dialogue with the states, plug communication gaps, quickly disseminate strategic initiatives of the ministry of health and understand the challenges on the ground so that necessary technical support could be rendered for improved progress and better implementation of government schemes, the Centre has proposed to monitor states on the basis of their health indicators.
This means that states with poor health indicators to be reviewed extensively vis-a-vis those showcasing good health indicators.
Officials in the health ministry say that the idea is to strengthen dialogue with the state, understand the challenges and constraints of implementation of schemes so that support for improved implementation can be rendered.
The states have been categorised into different groups like a, b and c. While, those which have the most adverse and populous states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh (UP), Madhya Pradesh etc. would be taken up for much more rigorous review — once in every month and has been categorised in “a” group, there are certain others like Haryana, Orissa, Jharkhand etc. that will be reviewed once in two months — which means the “b” group. The others falling in “c” category are with those better health indicators and that are smaller like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Dadar and Nagar Haveli and will be reviewed every four months.
“This categorisation has been done with regard to the health indicators, in order to give better attention to the states that require greater support. This will help know the constraints, depending on which extensive techiqual support can be rendered to these states,” said Anuradha Gupta, additional secretary and Mission director, National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).
For example if the state has only 50 per cent immunisation coverage. The government of India can help by holding a workshop, help the state formulate a roadmap and can be given technical support so that improved planning can help in better implementation.