The National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) is a national-level scheme approved by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) under the National Health Mission (NHM). It was formally approved in February 2019. The program was created to strengthen the health sector's response to the adverse impacts of climate change, following the preparation of the National Action Plan for Climate Change and Human Health (NAPCCHH) in 2018. This initiative broadened India's climate change response, which had introduced a new mission on "Health" in 2015.
The NPCCHH works by focusing on three key areas: air pollution, heat-related illnesses (HRI), and the creation of green and climate-resilient healthcare facilities. Its mechanism involves developing State Action Plans on Climate Change and Human Health (SAPCCHH) for all 36 States and Union Territories. Key activities include strengthening surveillance systems for climate-sensitive diseases, such as the Acute Respiratory Illnesses (ARI) surveillance started in Delhi in 2017. It also involves developing State/District/City-specific heat and health action plans, and implementing early warning systems (EWS).
The program connects to the broader National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and is overseen by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) under the MoHFW. It also involves collaborative partnerships with organizations like the Indian Council of Medical Research and the WHO India. While the program's core structure remains, its implementation is ongoing, with State Action Plans, such as the one for Uttarakhand, guiding activities from 2022 to 2027.