Thiruvananthapuram: The National Health Mission (NHM) is currently experiencing a crisis as the Centre has decided to withhold funds due to the state government not meeting its branding requirements.

As a result, several NHM activities like Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) for newborn babies and mothers, surgery for heart patients and free treatment for children up to 18 years have come to a standstill. 

To improve the health sector’s infrastructure in states, funds are allocated annually from the National Health Mission (NHM), a central scheme. The modernisation and infrastructural development of the primary health centres and sub-centres are carried out through this scheme, where the Centre provides 60 per cent of funds, and the rest is borne by the state. 

However, the Centre is insisting the state on removing the 'Janarogya Kendram' label given to health centres and renaming them as 'Ayushman Arogya Mandir. The health care centres must have yellow-coloured walls, as insisted by the Centre.

Although Kerala has agreed with other demands, such as displaying symbols provided by them on the boards at the centres, no funds have been released by the Centre in the current fiscal year. Typically, the funds are distributed in four instalments. Out of the total amount of Rs 409.05 crores earmarked for the state, Rs 371.20 crores have to be paid directly.

There are 15,000 employees under the NHM scheme in the state. Due to fund shortage, they have not received salary for two months. Additionally, the state has not yet received Rs 278 crores for infrastructure development.