The Centre has sanctioned Rs 4495 crore for the National Urban Health Mission during the 11th five year plan in a bid to reverse the healthcare fortunes of over 60 million slum dwellers in the urban areas. The Mission will be implemented on the lines of successful National Rural Health Mission (NHRM).
The schemes under the mission, aimed at addressing the primary health needs of people living in urban slums, would begin from this financial year as Rs 50 crore has already been allocated for the purpose. The programme will be implemented on a public-private partnership mode, sources said.
All cities with population above one lakh and state capitals would be covered under it. As many as 430 cities with a total population of 22 crore with focus on 6.25 crore population in the listed and unlisted slums would get the benefits.
The vulnerable population such as homeless, rag-pickers, street children, rickshaw pullers, construction and brick kiln workers, sex workers and any other temporary migrants would be identified by the Urban Local Body (ULB) concerned or any other State specific mechanism and shall be issued a photo Family Health Card.
Though, no person would be denied service in the public health facilities, marginalized urban families identified under the scheme would receive service on concession terms under NUHM. Synergies are envisioned with Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) Swarna Jayanti Sharkari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY), etc. and with the ongoing National Health Programmes for maximizing benefits, sources said.
As per 2001 census, 28.6 crore people live in urban areas, out of which 3.26 crore live in slum areas of the cities/towns having a population of 1 lakh and above. However, as per the latest estimates, it has crossed five-crore mark.
For urban poor, access to urban health facilities are severely restricted due to their being 'crowded out' because of the inadequacy of the public health delivery system. Lack of economic resources restrict their access to private facilities while lack of standards and norms for urban health delivery, illegal status, poor environmental condition, over crowding and environmental pollution make them more vulnerable and worse off than rural counterparts.