The NDA government has urged states for timely utilization of central funds to expedite the implementation of health services at grassroots level.

In a review meeting chaired by Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Health and Family Welfare which was attended by the health ministers of all the states including northeastern states, states were told to properly utilize the centrally sponsored schemes for upgrading the health infrastructure across the country.

“Government of India has been working in the spirit of cooperative and collaborative federalism with States and UTs for creating, expanding and strengthening a multi-tier health infrastructure network across the country,” Dr Mandaviya said as he virtually interacted with State Health Ministers of States/UTs to review the implementation of flagship schemes including National Health Mission (NHM), various projects under Emergency COVID Response Package (ECRP)-II, Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), 15th Finance Commission (XV FC) grants.

From the North East, Assam Health Minister Keshab Mahanta, and Arunachal Health Minister Alo Libang were present in the meeting.

Dr Mandaviya invited the State Health Ministers to share the challenges faced by them towards this goal and sought their suggestions for further facilitating funds utilisation.

“Let us speedily cover all eligible beneficiaries for health services under PMJAY by ensuring that remaining beneficiaries are provided PMJAY cards by organising special camps”, Dr Mandaviya urged the states as he reviewed the progress of PMJAY.

Prime Minister Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) is one of the largest pan-India schemes for strengthening healthcare infrastructure.

With an outlay of about Rs. 64,180 crores over six years, the measures under the scheme focus on developing the capacities of health systems and institutions across the continuum of care at all levels viz. primary, secondary and tertiary and on preparing health systems to respond effectively to the current and future pandemics/disasters.
The Mission targets to build an IT-enabled disease surveillance system by developing a network of surveillance laboratories at block, district, regional and national levels, in metropolitan areas & strengthening health units at the Points of Entry, for effectively detecting, investigating, preventing, and combating public health emergencies and disease outbreaks.

It may be mentioned here that the 15th Finance Commission recommended that health spending by States should be increased to more than 8 percent of their budget by 2022, primary healthcare expenditure should be two-thirds of the total health expenditure by 2022 and, Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) in health should be flexible enough to allow states to adapt and innovate, with the focus shifting from inputs to outcomes.

The Union Government accepted the 15th FC grant of Rs. 70,051 crores for local governments with 37 percent (Rs. 26,123 Crore ) of the total funds allocated for Urban Health and 63 percent (Rs 43,928 Crore ) for rural health.

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