PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: The federal government has allocated Rs14.5 billion for completing 24 new and 28 on-going health sector projects under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
This includes money for the establishment of basic health units and a blood transfusion service in the federal capital and a gynaecology centre in the twin city of Rawalpindi.
According to budgetary documents for the fiscal year 2020-21, the federal government has allocated Rs25.187 billion for the health sector under various heads.
Under the development funds, it has allocated Rs11.95 billion for on-going schemes while Rs2.55 billion has been allocated for new health schemes.
As part of government’s initiative to provide health insurance to underprivileged people, an amount of Rs4.08 million has been allocated for the Sehat Sahulat Programme (Prime Minister’s National Health Programme Phase-II) while Rs2.206 billion has been earmarked for the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) – which operates polio and other immunization drives.
The government has also allocated a sum of Rs977 million for the establishment of 200-bed Centre of Excellence for Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Rawalpindi, while Rs235.032 million has been earmarked for the establishment of a Safe Blood Transfusion Services in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
According to the budget documents, a sum of Rs756.6 billion has been set aside for upgrading the rural health facility and strengthening of the health department in the federal capital for effective health care provision.
Another Rs204.978 million has been allocated for the establishment of four basic health units (BHUs) in ICT.
The government has allocated Rs701.25 million for upgrading the Radiology Department at the Federal Government Poly Clinic (FGPC) in Islamabad while Rs403 million has been allocated for the procurement of magnetic resonance imagery (MRI) machine for the Radiology Department at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) – a project which was defunded in the outgoing fiscal year after the government was forced to divert funds to fight the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
An allocation of Rs325 million has been made for upgrading the Gastroenterology Department and replacing equipment for advanced liver diseases at Pims.
The government has also allocated Rs854.137 million for extending the Intensive Care Department at the Mother and Child Health Centre and Children’s Hospital at Pims.
The government has also allocated Rs333.9 million for the National Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health Programme for Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
An amount of Rs294 million has been allocated for purchasing new electro-medical equipment to replace the obsolete and old fashioned machines with regards to strengthening and enhancing medical care and facilities for disabled patients at National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 13th, 2020.
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