Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said he is working on having a stringent mechanism to monitor fund flow and its utilisation for the health-related projects in the country. Vardhan said those who get fund but don’t deliver will face action, while those doing good work will be rewarded.
Replying to a question raised by Chandan Mitra in the Rajya Sabha, the Health Minister said despite having an institutionalised mechanism for monitoring there is a need to strengthen it further.
“One of the few things which I have done in my few days in office is to review this monitoring mechanism, strengthen it further and add professional inputs from outside to strengthen the Government mechanism of monitoring. In times to come, we will have better monitoring systems in place and we will make sure that those who are not delivering will be taken care of, and, those who are delivering well will be rewarded for their good work,” the Minister said.
Concerned about the dilapidated conditions of hospitals for which money is provided from Centre, Mitra sought to know whether there was any monitoring mechanism on the part of the Centre to see how the money allocated for a specific purpose or project was being spent. He also wanted to know how Government can ensure work for sanctioned projects are carried out in time bound manner.
“When the funds are allocated for a specific purpose or project, whether there is any monitoring mechanism on part of the Centre to see whether this money is being spent, how soon it is being spent and whether it is being spent in an appropriate manner,” asked Mitra.
In a specific query relating to a cancer hospital in Chandannagar in West Bengal, Mitra raised concern over its dilapidated condition saying the hospital is lying in disuse for last several years because the building has ‘virtually collapsed’.
“It is in ruins. Money has been sanctioned by the Health Ministry. It has gone to the CPWD, but it has since not been forwarded to the State Administration. Does the Minister have any idea of any specific cases like this where even after the sanction is given and the funds are transferred, the hospitals are not functioningIJ It is the only cancer hospital in hundred kilometre radius. Will the Government take steps to ensure that when they sanction a project, the same is carried out in a given time-frameIJ” Mitra asked.
vardhan said there is already an institutionalised mechanism called ‘Plan Implementation Programme’ under which concerned officers go to the relevant States from time to time. They monitor things at their own level and take feedback from various State Governments. Vardhan, however, added that this was not enough and the Government wants to fix answerability.