National Health Programmes In India

The Health and Family Welfare Ministry of India plans and implements various need-based health programs at a national level to prevent and manage communicable and non-communicable diseases. The national health programmes in India play an instrumental role in providing care services for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and discarding the social stigma pivoting about certain communicable diseases. Below is a national health programmes list wherein the reach, activities, and objectives of each program are discussed.   

National Mental Health Programme

The National Mental Health Programme was launched in 1982 as per the World Health Organization. It is one of the major national health programmes of our country. It aims at improving health and social outcomes pertaining to mental illness. The latest revised model of the program emphasizes a few principles. One of the principles focuses on providing necessary attention to the unique requirements of kids, adolescents, as well as adults. 

It ensures accessibility of mental health care services to vulnerable groups at remote locations. This program emphasizes service provisions for the empowerment and care of PWMI (persons with mental illness) and staff that looks after them. The roles and responsibilities of each sector in the health system perspective are clearly defined. The primary objectives of this national health program are as follows.

• To control and regulate disability, distress, and early mortality due to mental illness.

• To ensure accessibility and availability of mental health care to all by the 12th plan period, so as to enhance the recovery rates from mental illness. The underprivileged and most vulnerable sections of society should also have access to mental health care services. 

• To discard the social stigma regarding mental illness, promote community-wise participation in the mental health care awareness programs and services.

• To ensure the rights of persons with mental illness are respected and protected.

• To enhance access to mental health care preventive services for the population at risk.

• To improve the mental health service delivery infrastructure and to impart knowledge for the service delivery.

• To broad-base mental health with other programs like reproductive and child health.

• To empower and motivate staff at the various workplaces on mental health.

• To build administrative, accountability, and governing mechanisms. 

National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases & Stroke (NPCDCS) 

Launched in 2010, the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases & Stroke aims at lowering the mortality rate due to non-communicable diseases. It was enforced in 100 districts across 21 states through 2010-12. NCDs account for nearly 60% of the deaths in our country. The number of premature deaths due to stroke, heart diseases, diabetes, etc. has gone up over the years. The primary objective of NPCDCS is to focus on improving the infrastructure, health promotion, human resource development, early diagnosis, referral, and management mechanisms for the control and prevention of life-threatening non-communicable diseases. This program is mentioned under the NRHM programme list for non-communicable diseases.

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The performance of this program was reviewed in its initial phase and was re-strategised, discarding the bottlenecks. The revised strategies are as follows.

• Providing support for detection and cost-effective treatment at all levels of health care.

• Health promotion through a change in behaviour involving community organizations, civil society, media, etc. 

• Establishing NCD clinics to implement enhanced management of chronic NCDs through diagnosis at an early stage, treatment, and regular follow-ups. 

• Establishing outreach camps for frequent screening opportunities to ensure early detection of hypertension, common cancers, and diabetes.

• Enhancing the capacity of health care at all levels for rehabilitation, prevention, early detection, treatment, and operational research.

• Monitoring of risk factors, morbidity, and mortality due to NCDs and generating a database of NCDs with the help of a surveillance system. 

New guidelines for preventing and managing Chronic Kidney Disease and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease are included under this program. Guidelines are being issued for initiating population-based screening of the common NCDs with the help of health workers and frontline workers in the primary healthcare system. RNTCP has been integrated with NPCDCS to strategize a bi-directional screening, early detection, and enhanced management of comorbidities related to Tuberculosis and Diabetes. In three districts, the pilot intervention had been introduced to prevent and control Rheumatic Fever, and Rheumatic Heart Disease under NPCDCS and RBSK.

National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP)

The National Leprosy Eradication Programme was launched in 1983. It is counted among the health programmes in India that break a huge social stigma. The strategy of this program was primarily aimed at breaking the chain of transmission of leprosy. It aimed at achieving a fewer number of sources of infection, and a reduced quantum of this infection among the population. The vision of NLEP is to achieve a leprosy-free India by providing quality leprosy care services for free to any and every section of the population. Also, it ensures easy access to healthcare services. It covers the healthcare services for any disability caused after the cure of the disease. Its objectives are as follows.

• To lower the rate of prevalence below 1/10,000 of the population at all sub-national levels and districts. 

• To bring down the Grade II disability percentage below 1 among the newly detected cases at the national level.

• To achieve zero disabilities among the newly reported child cases.

• To bring down the Grade II disability cases below 1 case per million at the national level.  

• To achieve an environment free of stigma and discrimination for the people suffering or recovered from leprosy.

National AIDS Control Programme (NACP)

The National AIDS Control Programme was launched in 1992 in India, with the primary objective of preventing and controlling HIV/AIDS. This is one of those health programmes in India that prevent and control communicable diseases. The main vision of this program was to raise awareness for behaviour change in the form of a national response. Over the years, the vision of this program has transitioned to raise a decentralized response and enhance the involvement of NGOs and networks of people living with HIV. The objective of NACP I was to slow down the rate of transmission of the disease, thereby, reducing mortality, morbidity, and the overall impact of the disease in India. During the initial phase of the NACP, an autonomous body called the National AIDS Control Organization NACO and the National AIDS Control Board was established for the enforcement of the program. 

During the second phase of the program, NACP II, the objectives were:

• To curb the transmission of HIV in India

• To increase the capacity of our country to respond to HIV for the long term. 

The main policies of NACP II were as follows.

• Adopting the National AIDS Prevention and Control Policy 

• Enhancing targeted interventions in the high prevalence states for the high-risk groups

• Implementing a strategy to ensure GIPA, greater involvement of people with AIDS

• Adopting a national blood policy

• Introduction of counseling, PPTCT programs, and testing

• Establishing National Council on AIDS and State AIDS Control Societies

• Launching NAEP (National Adolescent Education Programme) and National Antiretroviral Treatment Programme

Launched in 2007, NACP III aimed at reversing and halting the HIV epidemic in our country by the completion of the project phase of five years. It primarily scaled up the efforts to prevent the disease among the population and especially the high-risk groups. The key policies of the third phase of the NACP were prevention, care, support, and treatment of HIV/AIDS in our country. 

Technical support units and state training resource centers were set up to facilitate proper monitoring and functioning of the program at both national and state levels. To monitor the implementation of the program in the northeastern states, a regional office has been established for the zone. There is a Strategic Information Management System dedicated for the implementation of the program and 15000 reporting units are set to be put up all across India. The upcoming phase of the NACP aims to further consolidate and sustain the achievement of the program.

National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP)

The National Tobacco Control Programme was enacted in May 2007-2008, with the aim to spread awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco consumption in India. The primary vision of the tobacco-control acts and laws was to regulate trade, production, supply, distribution, and prohibit the advertisement of tobacco products including cigarettes. To control the health issues related to tobacco, the government of India enforced an act for tobacco control in 2003. This program was launched by our Health and Family Welfare Ministry to ensure proper implementation of the tobacco control laws and to meet the clauses under WHO-FCTC. 

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The objectives of this program are as follows.

• To facilitate effective implementation of the tobacco control laws and acts.

• To spread awareness of the harmful and life-taking effects of tobacco consumption.

• To curb the consumption of tobacco in any form across the country and to reduce the mortality rate due to tobacco consumption.      

The government of India plans to carry out IEC activity, surveys, and strict surveillance in several districts throughout the country as a part of the implementation of this program. The enforcement of tobacco laws is monitored thoroughly and reported at national and sub-national levels. Also, various training and capacity buildings are established to regulate and curb the use of tobacco in India.

National Oral Health Programme

Oral health is of utmost importance for people of all age groups. Good oral health is achieved when there is no dental pain, tooth decay or loss, and any other disorders impacting the oral cavity. Gum disease and dental caries are also classified as oral health and periodontal health is directly related to diabetes. Almost 72% of the Indian population is deprived of proper dental care. Hence, our government has envisaged achieving the National Oral Health Programme for the entire population by 2020. It will ensure the delivery of oral health care services at an equitable, accessible, and affordable method for all. Being one of the latest additions to the national health programmes list, it aims to achieve optimal oral health for the entire population.     

The objectives of the National Oral Health Programme are listed below.

• To lower the morbidity rate caused by oral diseases.

• To enhance the determinants of oral health.

• To promote the model of Public-Private Partnerships so as to achieve good oral health.

• To consolidate the prevention and promotion of oral health with the general health care system.

The National Oral Health Cell monitors the implementation and progress of this program at the national level. The State Oral Health Cell and District Oral Health Cell monitor the program at the state and district levels, respectively.  

Pulse Polio Programme

The Pulse Polio Immunization Programme was launched in our country in 1995. It aims to completely eradicate poliovirus and its transmission in India. On every National Immunization Day, children between the age of 0 to 5 years are given polio vaccine orally. Sub-national immunization rounds of polio vaccines are also conducted in high-risk areas. The World Health Organization has dropped the name of India from the list of nations that are reported with active endemic poliovirus transmission on February 24, 2012.

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The following are the objectives of the Pulse Polio Programme.

• To achieve complete coverage of the population under the oral polio vaccination.

• To immunize the children by social mobilization.

• To organize mop-up operations in areas where the least number of cases are reported and poliovirus has nearly disappeared.

With the help of the pulse polio program, high morale will be maintained among the general public.

National Programme for Prevention & Management of Burn Injuries (NPPMBI)

The death rate due to ‘burn injuries’ is quite high in our country, and as per the data, 1 death is recorded every 4 minutes due to ‘burn injuries’. Also, it takes longer to cure the trauma, disability, and scars caused by burns. Repeated cosmetic surgeries, physiotherapeutic rehabilitation, and psychological counseling are required to restore the deadly effects of burns. However, most victims of burns cannot afford the expenses associated with the repeated surgeries and rehabilitation. Hence, to reduce the high death rate from burns, the Health and Family Welfare Ministry of India, in its 11th five-year plan had initiated a project for the development of units dedicated to ‘burn injuries’ at certain district hospitals, and medical colleges. In the 12th five-year plan this project is taken forward as the National Programme for Prevention & Management of Burn Injuries. 

The objectives of this program are as follows.

• To spread awareness about prevention and management of burn injuries among the common people, especially the vulnerable groups of industrial workers, working in high-risk or hazardous environments, and women and children.

• To control the mortality rates, morbidity, incidence, and disability from burn injuries.

• To organize a sufficient network of infrastructural facilities and well-trained staff for the management of burn-injured patients and their rehabilitation. 

• To assess the social, behavioural, and all other causes of burn injuries at a national level, to facilitate planning, monitoring, and evaluation of a need-based program for Burn injuries.   

The above-discussed list of national health programmes in India with year provides a brief idea of the most important rural and urban public healthcare services available in our country. There are several other public health programs in India that ensure the accessibility and affordability of healthcare facilities for the common people. These health programs prevent the spread of non-communicable and communicable diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.