Centre releases over 8,000 crore grant to 19 states to strengthen healthcare systems

A health sector grant of Rs 8,453.92 crore has been released by Central government for rural and urban local bodies of 19 states. Ministry on Finance on Saturday, November 13, informed that grant amount is released with an aim to strengn health systems and plug critical gaps in health care system at primary health care level. 

As per recommendations of Fifteenth Finance Commission, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance has released grant. In its report for period from 2021-22 to 2025-26, Fifteenth Finance Commission (FC-XV) has recommended a total grant of Rs 4,27,911 crore to local governments.

9 states received health sector grant

19 states that have received grant include Andhra Presh (Rs 488.1527 cr), Arunachal Presh (Rs 46.944 cr), Assam (Rs 272.2509 cr), Bihar (Rs 1116.3054 cr), Chhattisgarh (Rs 338.7944 cr), Himachal Presh (Rs 98.0099 cr), Jharkhand (Rs 444.3983 cr), Karnataka (Rs 551.53), Mhya Presh (Rs 922.7992), Maharashtra (Rs 778.0069 cr), Manipur (Rs 42.8771), Mizoram (Rs 31.19 cr), Odisha (Rs 461.7673 cr), Punjab (Rs 399.6558 cr), Rajasthan (Rs 656.171 cr), Sikkim (Rs 20.978 cr), Tamil Nu (Rs 805.928 cr), Uttarakhand (Rs 150.0965 cr), and West Bengal (Rs 828.0694 cr).

Finance Ministry said that  Commission inter-alia recommended grants including health grants of Rs 70,051 crore out of which Rs 43,928 crore have been recommended for Rural Local Bodies and Rs 26,123 crore for Urban Local Bodies. 

Finance Ministry aims to boost health system in rural and urban India

Commission has also identified interventions and has embarked on grants for same that will directly le to strengning primary health infrastructure and facilities in both rural and urban areas. For support for diagnostic infrastructure to primary healthcare facilities in rural areas, ministry earmarked grants of Rs 16,377 crore, Rs 5,279 crore for block-level public health units in rural areas. And for construction of buildings of building-less Sub centres, PHCs, CHCs in rural areas, Ministry gave grants of Rs 7,167 crore and Rs 15,105 crore for conversion of rural PHCs and sub-centres into health and wellness centre.

Also, for support for diagnostic infrastructure to primary healthcare facilities in urban areas, Rs 2,095 crore has been granted while Rs 24,028 crore has been granted for urban health and wellness centres (HWCs).

Ministry said, "Health grants recommended to be released in financial year 2021-22 is Rs 13,192 crore of which Rs 8,273 crore is for rural and Rs 4,919 crore is for urban local bodies"

Ministry ded that when a state government is strengned in terms of health infrastructure, resources and capacity building n state is well prepared to fight any pandemic or epidemic. 

It furr said that overall primary health care system is strengned when Panchayati Raj institutions and urban local government are involved as supervising agencies and involvement of local governments would also make health system accountable to people. 

(With ANI input)

(Image: PTI/REPRESENTATIVEIMAGE)