The Central Government has approved a grant of Rs 806 crore under the National Health Mission (NHM) programme for 2017-18 for Punjab.
The State Health and Family Welfare Minister, Brahm Mohindra, said that with this grant, they were looking forward to bring improvement in the State’s health sector with the setting up of about 200 health and wellness centres.
At these centres, citizens will be provided preventive, primary, curative health and health-care services, he said.
Mohindra added that Rs 12.65 crore had been given to conduct special courses for staff nurses to train them for primary healthcare.
These staff nurses will then be posted at sub-centres and community health officers, he said adding that to meet the shortage of specialists, especially Gynaecologists and Paediatricians, Diplomate of National Board (DNB) course at district hospital ludhiana had been approved.
“All districts and sub-divisional hospitals will be computerised in a phased manner. For this, a proposal of Rs 9.45 crore has been approved,” he added.
Meanwhile, the State Government is also planning to provide free treatment to the elderly (senior citizens) and equipment and drugs to all the health institutions including free drugs and diagnostics.
The Central Government has also approved Rs 29.9 crore for flagship schemes of Janani Shishu Surakhsha Karyakaram (JSSK) and Janani Surakhsha Yojna (JSY).
Under these schemes, free treatment is provided to all pregnant women and infants. Another Rs 16 crore has also been approved for Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakaram (RBSK) for health screening of children in Government and aided schools, Anganwardis and treatment of 30 specific diseases.
To provide incentive and training to ASHAs, Rs 45.96 crore has also been approved.
Mohindra informed that for smooth implementation of National Urban Health Mission, Rs 33.58 crore has been approved for strengthening the healthcare institutions, outreach camps and Mahila Arogya Smitis.
With the objective to combat and controlled diseases like tuberculosis, malaria, dengue and elimination of leprosy, Rs 20.88 crore has been approved, whereas to tackle non-communicable diseases especially Hypertention, Diabetes and other cardio vascular diseases and blindness, Rs 16.84 crore has been approved.