State gets Rs 806 cr for health sector

Chandigarh : The Centre has approved Rs 806.28 crore for the state’s National Health Mission programme for 2017-18, which is 35 per cent more than the sum of Rs 595 crore allocated for 2016-17.Of the budget allocation, 60 per cent of the share is provided by the Centre and the rest by the state government. The state proposes to set up at least 200 sub-centres as health and wellness centres. A budget of Rs 12.65 crores has been allocated for special courses for staff nurses in primary health care. An amount of Rs 9.45 crores has been sanctioned for computerisation of subdivisional hospitals in a phased manner.Experts say that the mission’s funding for health continues to be inadequate in view of the increasing population and corresponding costs. The increase does not match the requirement. Programmes, including maternal and child care, emergency response system (108 ambulance), adolescent health and immunisation, covered under the mission continue to be seeking additional funds. An amount of Rs 195.11 crore has been approved for equipment and drugs to all institutions while new MCH wings have been approved for district hospitals of Pathankot and Tarn Taran and community health centres at Bham and Fatehgarh Churian.