The Union Cabinet has approved proposals for changes in the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) that includes mainstreaming of Ayush infrastructure, including manpower and drugs. As per NRHC objective, Ayush medicines are to be included in the Drug Kit provided to Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA).Additional supply of generic drugs for common ailments at the Sub-Centre, PHC, CHC level shall also include Ayush formulations.

Provision for supply of generic drugs both Ayush and allopathic at the village Sub-Centre, PHC, CHCs for common ailments has been made under the Mission. This is being finalized. This has to be monitored closely.

Under a Public Private Initiative envisaged under NRHM, list of private medical practitioners to whom women of BPL category could be referred to for deliveries in the absence of a Government medical set up would be prepared. The District Health Society would also identify areas where public private partnership could be put to use (outsourcing items of work like cleaning, lab tests, etc)

The Cabinet last week, approved the broad framework for implementation of NRHM including illustrative financial norms for listed activities with space for flexibility and innovation to States. It has also given a broad in principle agreement on financial resources for NRHM 2005-12 in line with the commitment made in the Common Minimum Programme and the recommendations of the National Commission on Macroeconomics and Health.

It was also decided that the Mission Steering Group can be fully empowered to approve financial norms in respect of all schemes and components which are part of NRHM. The EPC will be given flexibility to change financial norms approved by the MSG within a range of + 25 per cent, with larger variations being approved by the MSG. All new schemes which are presently not part of NRHM, may be subjected to the normal appraisal and approval process i.e. appraisal by EFC and approval by CCEA. Mission Directorate is to be headed by the Additional Secretary.