Paucity of funds affects govt’s health initiatives

Funds have been released for some projects in the federal capital while other projects await money

ISLAMABAD: Even though the incumbent government has stated that health was a priority, with the federal health minister frequently visiting various health centres in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, it has been stingy in releasing funds for health-related projects.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, in its revised budget unveiled in September 2018, had slashed the budget for health projects from the Rs25.44 billion for 57 projects allocated by its predecessor — the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) — to just Rs10.89 billion for 37 projects.



Since then, budget and financial documents show that the government has thus far only released around Rs.2.2 billion for 17 projects.

The remaining projects are all on the backburner, awaiting funds.

Most of the funds released thus far have been for the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) and the Federal Government Services Hospital (Poly Clinic) in the federal capital. There are five projects listed for the hospitals under the annual Public Sector Development Program (PSDP).

These projects include setting up a Hematology Disorder and Neuro-Sciences Centre at Pims, a project to upgrade the plant of the centralised air conditioning system, and non-radiation modern endoscopy diagnostic were among the projects. There is a project to upgrade Maternal and Child Healthcare services at Poly Clinic on the list as well.

The federal government has so far released Rs1.96 billion for upgrading the endoscopy diagnostic equipment.

Among the projects pending due to the paucity of funds include the plan to set up a cancer hospital in the federal capital.

The government though is still appearing to push the construction of three hospitals in the federal capital, including a general hospital at Tarlai with 200 beds apart from upgrading mother and child hospitals in Bara Kahu, Rawat and Tarnol.

According to budget documents, around a billion rupees were allocated for each national health programme.

However, the government appears to be conflicted over splitting national health programmes between the provinces and the federation.

As a result, a number of national health programmes, including the national blind programme, family planning and primary healthcare programme, malaria control programme, hepatitis control programme, tuberculosis control programme, influenza control program and family planning programmes are all awaiting funds.

Moreover, funds have been allotted to Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) for maternal health, neonatal and child health (MNCH) programmes.

On Sunday, Federal Health Minister Aamer Mahmood Kiani had announced a plan to uplift and revamp the Holy Family Hospital (HFH) in Rawalpindi in a plan that is expected to cost over a billion rupees. Moreover, he has insisted on launching the party’s flagship health insurance scheme later this month.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 15^th, 2019.