The Delhi Cabinet on Tuesday approved Health Department's proposal of increasing the capacity of beds in an underconstruction hospital in Burari. The said proposal of Rs 265.80 crore has been cleared to enhance the capacity of the hospital from 200 beds to 768 beds.
"After a discussion on project, it was decided that some structural adjustment is required to accommodate more number of beds in this new hospital, which will provide healthcare to the residents of North Delhi," the Delhi Government official said.
Initially, the cost of the project was pegged at Rs 200 crore but now it has been revised to increase the number of beds in the hospital to cater to the health needs of people living in Burari and its adjoining areas. Besides enhancing the bed capacity, the Government will have to create 1,700 new posts to make hospital functional.
The under construction building will have a barrier free environment to cater to the needs of physically challenged persons for which specific changes in building designs have been done. "The modern building with all latest facilities is energy efficient and is a green building aimed at to reducing dependence on electric lighting and air conditioning," read an official statement issued by the AAP Government.
Also, the Cabinet approved the Health department's proposal for enhancement of ASHA incentives under the Accredited Social Health Activist Scheme under which the incentives for ASHA workers will also be doubled.
"The core incentive is now being doubled from Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000. Similarly in all other categories also, the incentive has been doubled," the Delhi Government stated.
Further, in order to support ASHA workers during pregnancy, it has been decided to provide them a maternity benefit of Rs 2,000 per month for a period of six months during the pre-natal period.
"The main objective of the scheme is to improve the access of available health services by the citizens and particularly the vulnerable population. It is being implemented in all districts of Delhi," Delhi government said , adding , There is one ASHA for every 2000 population (400 households). As in October 2017, there were 5210 ASHAs in place and 131 ASHA units with around 336 participating health centres", it stated.
Delhi is the first state to take up ASHA initiative in an urban setting on a large scale. ASHA provides a linkage and help to improve the health indices for around 100 lakh plus population living in these areas of the state in vast pockets of urban slums and difficult areas, depending upon health indicator, poor sanitation, water supply, prevalent malnutrition, communicable disease burden and an adverse female sex ratio.