Approach:

Introduction: We can introduce the answer by briefly writing about National Rural Health Mission. We can also introduce by highlighting the importance of Rural Healthcare.

Body:

Heading 1: We have to write about the persisting gaps in rural healthcare system. 

Heading 2: We have to write about the remedial measures that need to be taken to strengthen rural healthcare system 

Here we can quote relevant examples and data/stats in support of arguments.  
Conclusion:   We can conclude by highlighting the importance of NRHM in strengthening rural healthcare. We can also conclude by highlighting the importance of rural healthcare in realizing the SDG 3 of UN.

Answer:

National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) was launched in 2005 to provide healthcare services to the rural population. The Mission committed to increasing public expenditure on health from 0.9% of GDP to 2-3% of GDP.

Gaps in Rural Health Services:

• Shortage of infrastructure: Due to the shortage of Primary Health Centers and Community Health Centers, an average facility is serving much more people than it is equipped to serve.
• For example, India has just 25,743 PHCs and 5,624 CHCs against the estimated need for 29,337 PHC and 7,322 CHCs.
• Lack of personnel: As per Rural Health Statistics 2019-20, there is a shortfall of 76.1% specialists at the CHCs as compared to the requirement for existing CHCs.
• Altogether, 56,581 positions of doctors and other health staff are vacant in rural areas.
• Low Spending: India spends way too less on health in comparison to other developed nations like the U.S. and Japan.
• For example, Economic Survey 2020-21 has strongly recommended an increase in public spending on healthcare services from 1% to 2.5-3%.
• Awareness Deficit: Rural masses are not aware of the health services being provided in the under several health schemes which impacts the efficacy of such schemes.
• For example, due to lack of education, vaccine hesitancy was seen among rural population during COVID-19 pandemic.

Remedial Measures to Strengthen Rural Health Services:

• Connecting Communities through Technologies: Tele-health can be used to increase access to specialist consultations from an accessible PHC/CHC.
• For example, Indian Council for Medical Research's, Arogyasri, is an internet-based mobile telemedicine system that integrates multiple hospitals, mobile medical specialists, and rural mobile units/clinics.
• Access to Health data: It should be available with rural health networks so they could monitor the health indices of the population and spot those individuals who are more likely to end up in secondary or tertiary care.
• Citizen's participation: In a cross-country analysis of governance systems and health outcomes, countries with robust local government were found to have consistently lower infant mortality rates than those with more centralized forms.
• For example, In West Bengal and Kerala where primary healthcare is co-managed by panchayats – health outcomes are far better than the other states.
• Comprehensive Healthcare Management: This would lead to the appropriate utilization of primary health facilities and reduce the burden at the secondary and tertiary levels of care by reducing unnecessary referrals.

National Rural Health Mission through its financial and human resources has a key role to play in identifying, adopting and scaling innovative solutions to address the equity gaps in rural healthcare.