Improving health system through communitisation: A case of Maharashtra

The role of community based organization in advancing Universal Health Coverage and meeting the target 3.8 of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development has received recognition globally. India's experience with the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA) Or People's Health Movement are notable on account of nationally formalising at scale, community action in service delivery, monitoring and planning of health services. In this paper, the study has been undertaken to document the communitisation process in Maharashtra. Community based monitoring and planning (CBMP) of health services in Maharashtra represents an innovative participatory approach. This paper examines the success and challenges of this process.Further, it throws light on the contribution of CBMP in deepening democracy, building accountability, improving access and enhancing responsiveness of Public health service.

 CBMP in Maharashtra is organised at multiple levels, with Health officials, elected village representatives, civil society organisation and active community members forming multi stakeholder monitoring and planning committees at each level. Implementation includes awareness raising and preparatory activities, capacity building and training of participants, community based assessment of health services, organisation of public hearings and state level dialogue event.