Tribal Affairs Department and National Health Mission today finalised modalities for roll out of Tribal Health plan aimed at focused development of healthcare infrastructure in tribal areas and providing dedicated facilities for migratory tribal population. The plan includes a host of new initiatives covering various aspects of healthcare.Secretary, Tribal Affairs Department, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary along with Managing Director, National Health Mission, Mohammad Yasin Choudhary had detailed deliberations with departments and districts about the components of programme, capacity building, infrastructure, professional manpower and augmentation of facilities. Special Secretary, Tribal Affairs Deptt, Director Tribal Affairs, State Coordinator NHM, Jt Director Planning, OSD Mission Youth, district officers and experts attended the meeting.Secretary, Tribal Affairs discussed the annual plan of tribal development viz a viz healthcare system including mobile medical units and transit healthcare system. The initiatives of department for healthcare augmentation were discussed for coordination with NHM for a comprehensive Tribal Health Plan.MD NHM Mohammad Yasin Choudhary gave a detailed presentation about the Tribal Health Plan to be implemented in coordination with Tribal Affairs Department, Health Department and concerned district administration. The plan includes preventive healthcare, mobile health units, telemedicine, capacity building and expansion of professional Human Resource network. He proposed a slew of measures for overall tribal healthcare which were appreciated as a novel innovation which will strengthen the healthcare system in tribal areas.Tribal affairs department has also earmarked budget for Tribal Health Plan to provide mobile healthcare units, up gradation of infrastructure in health institutions located in tribal areas, training of youth, availability of facilities on transit routes and highland pastures.
The meeting also decided various studies to be conducted and health awareness programmes to be organized. Mission Directorate, National Health Mission has also proposed a detailed health plan for coverage of tribal population. NHM is initiating dedicated efforts for a well formulated tribal health plan including outreach. The focus on maternal and child health was also discussed.A three tier network of health institutions will work under the plan. The Tribal Health Centres will be established as a network of health institutions wherein infrastructure will be made available by tribal affairs department and manpower and logistics will be provided by NHM in coordination with Department of Health and Family Welfare. Pre-fabricated huts will be constructed in highland areas during the period of migration and mobile medical units will be stationed in tribal concentration areas. The second level of health institutions under the plan will be Tribal Sub-Centres where upgradation of facilities will be done by NHM and tribal affairs department. These institutions will be integrated with PHCs. Initially the pilot project will be implemented in 4 districts, 2 each from both the provinces, with maximum tribal population, and later expanded to all 20 districts.The database generated in recent survey of facilities for migratory population and assessment done under Integrated Village Development Scheme (IVDS) in tribal villages will be utilised as baseline for providing healthcare facilities including infrastructure. Further, NHM has proposed to have on place Tribal Aarogya Mitras at every hospital to facilitate the treatment and allied support system at hospitals. A network of ambulances under scheme is also planned.An immediate pilot project with outlay of Rs 10 Cr under UT CapEx budget of tribal affairs department will be rolled out meanwhile National Health Mission directorate J&K will submit a detailed plan to Government of India for funding. Henceforth, the Tribal Health Plan will be a part of annual CapEx plan of tribal affairs Department.