Umbrella Scheme for Family Welfare and Other Health Interventions | 03 Jan 2019

Cabinet has approved the continuation of umbrella scheme for "Family Welfare and Other Health Interventions" during 2017-18 to 2019-20.

• The scheme is funded 100% by Central Government. The government has allocated an overall outlay of around Rs. 2300 crore for the scheme.

Schemes are as follows

• Swastha Nagrik Abhiyan(SNA): It aims to create a social movement for health, create awareness among citizens of India and to encourage healthy lifestyles and empower the citizens.
  • SNA was proposed in National Health Policy, 2017.
  • According to NHP, 2017 'Swastha Nagrik Abhiyan' is based on coordinated action in seven core areas:
    • The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
    • A balanced, healthy diet and regular exercise
    • Addressing tobacco, alcohol and substance abuse
    • Yatri Suraksha - preventing deaths due to rail and road traffic accidents
    • Nirbhaya Nari - action against gender violence
    • Reduced stress and improved safety in the workplace
    • Reducing indoor and outdoor air pollution
• Population Research Centres (PRC): For third-party evaluation of the scheme on PRCs and especially of those centers which are being considered for continuation will be carried out.
  • The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has established a network of Population Research Centres (PRC) with the mandate to provide research-based inputs related to the Health and Family Welfare Programs and Policies at the national and state levels.
• Health Surveys and Health Research (HSHR): For sourcing of data on population, health and nutrition for India and its States including through periodically conducted National Family Health Survey. The NFHS provides valuable data for policy and programmes right up to the district level.
• Social Marketing of Contraceptives: For branding, attractive packaging, marketing and selling of products and services related to Family Planning for low-income groups at affordable prices.
• Free Supply of Contraceptives: For providing a free supply of contraceptives including condoms, Oral Contraceptive Pills, Pregnancy Test Kits, other contraceptives, etc. to States.

Benefits

• The five schemes listed in the proposal are crucial to attaining the goals and objectives laid out in National Health Policy (NHP) 2017, and international commitments in the form of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• The SNA scheme has a very ambitious target of improving health-seeking behavior of the population through increased awareness and enhanced uptake of health services.
• The HSHR would assist in keeping a tab on the progress of the entire set of health programmes/schemes run by the government of India and assisting in timely course corrections.
• The free and social marketing of contraceptives will enable better child and mother health, besides population stabilization.