Uttarakhand would seek an increase of 25 percent in the budget provided to it under the National Health Mission (NHM). At present, the state receives a budget of about Rs 400 Crores under the NHM. The secretary (in-charge) medical, health and family welfare, Dr Pankaj Kumar Pandey said NHM has convened a meeting in New Delhi on January 21 and 22.
The Uttarakhand has prepared a proposal of about Rs 500 Crore for next year’s demand. The state has so far utilised Rs 200 Crores out of the budget provided to it under the NHM this year.
The NHM has two submissions, the National Rural Health Mission and National Urban Health Mission. It includes health system strengthening, reproductive- maternal- neonatal- child and adolescent health and communicable and non communicable diseases. The NHM envisages achievement of universal access to equitable, affordable and quality health care services to the people. For the budget, the respective states present Programme Implementation Plan (PIP) which is an aggregate of the district health action plan and includes the activities to be carried out at the state level.
In another development, the state administration has directed the health directorate for speedy and proper utilisation of the budget. The department has a budget of Rs 1800 Crore for the year 2019-20. The secretary in charge, Dr Pankaj Kumar Pandey said that he has convened a meeting of the officials of the department in which the status of the budget would be discussed.
He said in the meeting the department officials would asked to focus on utilization of budgetary provisions. The department is planning to ensure that tenders are floated in the months of January and February so that the budget does not get lapsed.