National Health Mission: Why Applications Get Rejected and How to Fix It

The National Health Mission (NHM) has no application form and no beneficiary list, so most "rejections" people describe are really one of two different problems: being refused a free service you are entitled to at a government facility, or a cash-linked component such as Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) not paying out. This article separates the two and gives the fix for each. NHM is the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's programme that funds the public health system itself. The ASHA, the 108 ambulance, the free drugs, so the remedy is almost always at the facility or with the health society, not a re-application.

First, understand what NHM is not

NHM pays no cash transfer to individuals as a whole and does not reimburse private-hospital treatment. If you were "rejected" because you sought reimbursement for a private hospital, that is correct scheme scope, not an error; private treatment is not eligible under NHM. For empanelled private-hospital cover you need Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, a separate scheme. Fixing this means going to the right scheme, not appealing NHM.

Problem 1: a free service was refused or charged for

NHM funds a set of entitlements that are free at public facilities. The Free Drugs Service Initiative, the Free Diagnostics Service Initiative, and free delivery care under Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) including caesarean, drugs, diagnostics, diet, blood and transport.

Why it happens: a facility says a medicine is "out of stock" and sends you to a private chemist, or charges for a notified free test, or asks for payment for delivery care.

Fix:

1. Ask explicitly for the entitlement by name, the essential drug from the state list, the notified free diagnostic, or JSSK delivery care. State entitlement charters are displayed at facilities.
2. If a listed free drug, notified free test or JSSK delivery is charged, that is a violation. Report it to the Medical Officer in charge, then the district health officer.
3. Use the 104 state health helpline to escalate facility-level denials, or your ASHA/ANM as the first contact.

Problem 2: a JSY or other cash entitlement did not pay

Specific components do pay cash — Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) gives the mother roughly Rs 600 to Rs 1,400 for institutional delivery depending on state category and rural/urban residence, but these have their own criteria and are paid by Direct Benefit Transfer.

Why claims stall:

• Eligibility for the cash is narrower than the free service. In High Performing States, JSY cash is restricted to BPL, SC and ST women, so a general-category non-BPL woman there can use every free service but is not eligible for that particular cash. This is scope, not a processing failure.
• Documents missing for DBT, no bank passbook, JSY card or MCP card submitted at the facility.
• Bank account not linked or inactive, so the DBT credit fails.

Fix:

1. Confirm you fall in the eligible category for the specific cash component in your state before expecting payment.
2. Submit your JSY card, MCP card, Aadhaar and bank passbook at the facility so the DBT claim can be filed correctly.
3. Ensure the bank account is active and correctly seeded; a wrong or dormant account is the commonest reason a DBT credit bounces.

Where to raise a grievance

• 104: state health helpline for advice, facility information and complaints.
• 1075; National Health Helpline of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• Your ASHA, ANM or Medical Officer in charge for service-level problems.
• State Health Society and District Health Society, whose contacts are listed state-wise on nhm.gov.in, for programme and payment grievances.

A short checklist before you complain

• Am I asking for a free service or a cash component? They have different rules.
• For a free service: is it on the state essential drug/diagnostic list or JSSK? If yes, it must be free.
• For cash (JSY): am I in the eligible category, and have I given a working bank account and the required cards?

Do not accept an unofficial "no". NHM entitlements are enforceable at public facilities, and a facility charging for a listed free service should be reported rather than paid.

For the full list of NHM services, eligibility and how access works, see the parent guide to the National Health Mission.