On 8-9 April 2025, a delegation from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India, visited Madhya Pradesh to understand the implementation and impact of the Decision Support System (DSS) tool in improving child health outcomes under the Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness (IMNCI) program.
Developed by the National Health Mission (NHM), Madhya Pradesh with technical support from the Norway India Partnership Initiative (NIPI), the DSS tool is a digital platform designed to assist Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) and Community Health Officers (CHOs) in the assessment and treatment of children under five years of age, based on evidence-based protocols.
Since its rollout under key state initiatives like Dastak Abhiyan and SAANS Abhiyan, the DSS tool has enabled the assessment of over 80,000 children, identifying more than 14% as high-risk cases and ensuring timely treatment.

The visiting team, comprising Dr. Rajendra Kukade (Senior Consultant, Nutrition Division, MoHFW), Mr. Ashish Rathore (Senior Consultant, IT Division, NHSRC), and Dr. Sruthi M. (Consultant, Public Health Administration, NHSRC), conducted field visits in Vidisha (rural) and Bhopal (urban).
In Vidisha, they interacted with ANMs and CHOs at Village Health and Nutrition Day (VHND) sites and Health & Wellness Centres, observing the DSS tool in community settings. In Bhopal, the team witnessed DSS-based assessments at Anganwadi Centres and discussed frontline worker coordination with the Women and Child Development (WCD) Department, and the use of DSS data for clinical decision-making.
The team appreciated the state's leadership in integrating digital tools into frontline health services and recommended further strengthening referral linkages with Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs), enhancing breastfeeding assessment within the tool, and expanding the use of DSS dashboards for data-driven decision-making.
The visit concluded with a debriefing session at the NHM State Office, where Dr. Himani Yadav, Deputy Director, presented the state’s vision to scale DSS usage across all health blocks.
The National Health Mission, Madhya Pradesh’s innovation with the DSS platform showcases a strong commitment to digital health transformation and holds promise for national replication under the IMNCI framework.