Reaching The Unreached: Evaluating The National Health Mission in Odisha

The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), launched in 2005, aimed to strengthen rural healthcare infrastructure and improve service delivery. In Odisha, one of the focus states, significant progress has been made under NRHM—now integrated into the National Health Mission (NHM)—in areas like infrastructure, maternal and child health, and disease prevention. Initiatives such as Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), LaQshya, and Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) have contributed to improved maternal and infant health outcomes. Digital innovations, including telemedicine and the Odisha e-Hospital Management Information System (OeHMIS), have enhanced access to care. Additionally, the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) has expanded coverage, offering cashless healthcare services. Despite these achievements, the mission faces challenges, including inadequate funding, workforce shortages, and healthcare disparities between urban and rural regions. Overburdened facilities and underdeveloped infrastructure in remote areas continue to limit service delivery. A SWOT analysis of NHM in Odisha reveals its strengths in infrastructure and digital health innovations, and its vulnerabilities to geographical and logistical constraints. Addressing these issues requires sustained policy commitment, equitable funding, and strategic planning. Odisha’s vision, "Sustha Odisha, Sukhi Odisha" (Healthy Odisha, Happy Odisha), highlights its goal of delivering equitable, quality healthcare to all citizens