Public health programme under the National Health Mission, aimed at healthcare of lakhs of rural poor is floundering in at least four States — Karnataka, Telangana, Nagaland and Arunanchal Pradesh — due to delay in release of funds to execute various important activities like family planning services, salary to staff and procurement of drugs. As per rule, under Central flagship NHM, funds have to be transferred from State Treasury to the State Health Societies (SHS) within a stipulated 15-day period. However, as per data, Nagaland, even after a lapse of 308 days since it received first installments Rs 48.37 crore is yet to release the fund while Telangana is lagging by 259 days in releasing Rs 143.28 crore. Similarly, Karnataka has reported delays running into 130 days as it continue to sit on NHM funds Rs 97.57 crore while Arunanchal Pradesh has not transferred Rs 34.90 crore even after a lapse of 50 days.
Concerned at the undue delay which is hampering several health programmes, Union Health Minister JP Nadda has recently shot off letters to the Chief Ministers of the four States, seeking their intervention by getting the funds transferred to SHS for timely implementation of the NHM programmes.
“This delay has adversely impacted implementation of the NHM programmes and affected the core activities such as direct beneficiaries payment under Janani Suraksha Yojna and other demand based activities like Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram, family planning services, incentive payment to ASHASs, procurement of drugs and equipment, salary to staff, operation of ambulances and completion of civil works...
“Further, most of the senior officials of Health Department in the State have reportedly been busy chasing the release from Finance Department, rather than focusing on programme implementation,” Nadda said stressing that fund was must for ensuring critical healthcare services for the public through effective implementation of NHM. Due to the inordinate delays, the Centre is yet to release second installment of fund for smooth working of the healthcare schemes under the NHM.