Before NRHM, we had only 3,500 specialist doctors for gynaecology, nephrology, etc., in the public health sector. That figure has now doubled to 7,000. Before NRHM, there were only 20,000 doctors, now there are 30,000 doctors in primary health centres (PHCs). From 22,000 nurses, we have gone up to 35,000 nurses. And we have a whole new cadre of six lakh ASHAs  (Accredited Social Health Activists).

When I took over as health minister, the ministry’s total allocation was Rs 6,000 crore; today I get Rs 16,500 crore. This is what we have achieved in four years.

In NRHM we had to set up everything from scratch. Our money goes directly to the district from the Centre. Earlier, plans and allocations made in Delhi were forced down the throats of the people. Now the people in the districts tell us what they want and we give them the money to do it.

We have promoted institutional deliveries under the Janani Suraksha Yojana to bring down maternal mortality. We pay Rs 1,400 to the mother for going to a hospital—public or private. In 2005, the total number of mothers benefiting from this scheme was six lakh. In 2006, it was 31 lakh and today it is 65 lakh.  Tamil Nadu is the first state where Caesarean operations are performed in PHCs. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is thinking of replicating the model in other countries. Another huge success is that for the first time in three years, HIV-AIDS is coming down.

... contd.