It has been told that while National Health Mission (NHM) was focused on primary and secondary care, the Pradhan Mantri-Samagra Swasthya Mission (PM-SSM) is more focused on developing tertiary care capacities at the district hospital level.
An announcement regarding the renaming of National Health Mission to Pradhan Mantri-Samagra Swasthya Mission is expected today during the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare (CCHFW) meeting that will meet under the chairmanship of Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya at Dehradun.
The CCHFW, which is the apex advisory body set up under Article 263 of the Constitution, is bestowed with the responsibility to provide support and advice to the Department of Health on policy formulation concerning health.
The advisory body comprises health ministers of of all the states.
It has been reported that the CCHFW is part of the two-day Chintan Shivir organised by the Union Health Ministry on July 14-15.
As per media reports, the renaming proposal has already been approved by the Mission Steering Group (MSG), which is headed by the Union Health Minister.
It has been told that while NHM was focused on primary and secondary care, the PM-SSM is more focused on developing tertiary care capacities at the district hospital level.
Back in 2005, the National Health Mission was launched as National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) by the then Manmohan Singh-led UPA government while the urban component was added in the mission in 2013.
Last year, the Centre had decided to extend the NHM till March 2026, with an overall allocation of Rs 2.75 lakh crore.
During the two-day Chintan Shivir, issues like medical, nursing and allied health education, National Organ Transplant Programme and District Residency Programme are expected to be discussed.
Besides, a session on Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and Sickle Cell Disease is also planned.