Health ADP sees increase, but it’s not enough: experts
Total outlay for development is Rs51.8 billion, a significant increase from 2016-17.
PHOTO: EXPRESS
LAHORE:
The Punjab government has allocated Rs51.808 billion in its Annual Development Budget (ADP) for the Health and Population Welfare Planning sector.
Budget documents revealed that for primary and secondary healthcare, the total development outlay for 2017-18 was Rs 25.048 billion and the total number of schemes is 161 of which 87 were ongoing and 73 were new. These included revamping all DHQ and THQ hospitals in the province.
Money would also be spent in improving molecular-based disease surveillance, strengthening district health authorities and enhancing the communicable disease control program.
The year will also see the establishment of the Punjab Health Information System, purchase of mobile health units, while a focus would be laid on preventive measures and promotion of healthcare. Efforts would be made to initiate and effectively implement the programme to control infectious diseases.
Annual budget: Rs468.98m approved for women varsity
The document further added that existing prevention and control programmes, including those for HIV/AIDS, TB, Hepatitis, and other infectious disease would be further strengthened.
The documents further added that for specialised healthcare, the total development outlay stands at Rs 25.26 and it is expected that 40 schemes will be completed next year.
In her budget speech, Finance Minister Dr Aisha Ghaus Pasha said the government’s main focus would be to improve emergency wards at territory care hospitals of Punjab, “Purchase of ventilators and ventilated beds, with basic ICU equipment, and establishment of mother and child hospitals, are top priorities,” she added.
The minister said that for specialised healthcare, the total numbers of schemes add up to 89 including of which 49 are ongoing, 37 new and four ODP.
In ADP 2016-17, the expected financial utilisation for these schemes was 90% in the primary and secondary healthcare sector. As many as 101 schemes had been completed out of a total 230.
Major ongoing prevention programmes, including EPI, HIV/AIDs and hepatitis would continue in this year. Furthermore, the Specialised Healthcare Department has completed a total of 36 schemes out of 129.
When contacted, a senior doctor of medicine at Mayo Hospital, Dr Farhan Ahmed, said as many as 9.6 million children in the country face stunted growth and 80,000 people are HIV patients. Hepatitis is also rapidly growing in Punjab, “This allocation is insufficient for Punjab’s population,” he commented.
“More funds are needed to raise awareness about the deadly ailments,” he said. “he demanded.
“The province faces several health challenges, especially dengue, hepatitis, population growth and terrible conditions at hospitals etc,” he said. The doctor concluded the government is simply trying to fool people by putting forth such figures.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 3rd, 2017.
The Punjab government has allocated Rs51.808 billion in its Annual Development Budget (ADP) for the Health and Population Welfare Planning sector.
Budget documents revealed that for primary and secondary healthcare, the total development outlay for 2017-18 was Rs 25.048 billion and the total number of schemes is 161 of which 87 were ongoing and 73 were new. These included revamping all DHQ and THQ hospitals in the province.
Money would also be spent in improving molecular-based disease surveillance, strengthening district health authorities and enhancing the communicable disease control program.
The year will also see the establishment of the Punjab Health Information System, purchase of mobile health units, while a focus would be laid on preventive measures and promotion of healthcare. Efforts would be made to initiate and effectively implement the programme to control infectious diseases.
Annual budget: Rs468.98m approved for women varsity
The document further added that existing prevention and control programmes, including those for HIV/AIDS, TB, Hepatitis, and other infectious disease would be further strengthened.
The documents further added that for specialised healthcare, the total development outlay stands at Rs 25.26 and it is expected that 40 schemes will be completed next year.
In her budget speech, Finance Minister Dr Aisha Ghaus Pasha said the government’s main focus would be to improve emergency wards at territory care hospitals of Punjab, “Purchase of ventilators and ventilated beds, with basic ICU equipment, and establishment of mother and child hospitals, are top priorities,” she added.
The minister said that for specialised healthcare, the total numbers of schemes add up to 89 including of which 49 are ongoing, 37 new and four ODP.
In ADP 2016-17, the expected financial utilisation for these schemes was 90% in the primary and secondary healthcare sector. As many as 101 schemes had been completed out of a total 230.
Major ongoing prevention programmes, including EPI, HIV/AIDs and hepatitis would continue in this year. Furthermore, the Specialised Healthcare Department has completed a total of 36 schemes out of 129.
When contacted, a senior doctor of medicine at Mayo Hospital, Dr Farhan Ahmed, said as many as 9.6 million children in the country face stunted growth and 80,000 people are HIV patients. Hepatitis is also rapidly growing in Punjab, “This allocation is insufficient for Punjab’s population,” he commented.
“More funds are needed to raise awareness about the deadly ailments,” he said. “he demanded.
“The province faces several health challenges, especially dengue, hepatitis, population growth and terrible conditions at hospitals etc,” he said. The doctor concluded the government is simply trying to fool people by putting forth such figures.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 3rd, 2017.