Health sector gets Rs12.65b

Amount to be utilised on 33 ongoing and nine new schemes under health ministry

ISLAMABAD:

The government has allocated Rs12.65 billion for the health sector in Islamabad and Rawalpindi under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).

According to the budget for the year 2022-23, the said amount will be utilised on 33 ongoing and nine new schemes under the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination.

Ongoing and new schemes

Under the new budget, over Rs10 billion has been proposed for 33 ongoing projects and over Rs2 billion for nine new health schemes.

Similarly, an amount of Rs2,100 million has been allocated for Sehat Sahulat Programme and Prime Minister's National Health Insurance Programme Phase-II.

Regulatory authorities

An amount of Rs3.66 billion has been proposed for health administration, Rs778.57 million for public health services, Rs31.29 million for the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan and Rs68.583 million for the Healthcare Regulatory Authority.

Allocations for hospitals

In the new budget, Rs95 million have been proposed for Federal Medical and Dental College Islamabad, Rs129.71 million for Burn Care Center at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Islamabad and Rs2.56 billion for PIMS and Rs48.88 million for National Institute of Rehabilitation Mediation Islamabad. Similarly, Rs49.48 million have been proposed for the College of Nursing and Medical Technology and Rs.379.77 million for Mother and Child Care Center Islamabad.

Similarly, Rs2.72 billion have been proposed for the Federal Medical Teaching Institute, Rs10.73 million for TB Centre Rawalpindi and Rs298.868 million for Federal General Hospital Chak Shehzad. An amount of Rs1,500 million has been allocated for the establishment of Jinnah Hospital (the establishment of Federal Government Polyclinic (PGMI)-II at G-11/3, Islamabad.

An amount of Rs800 million has been allocated for the establishment of 200 bed accident and emergency centre at the PIMS.

Similarly, Rs800 million has been allocated for the establishment of a 200-bed Centre of Excellence for Gynecology and Obstetrics, Rawalpindi.

Disease surveillance system

In addition, Rs500 million has been allocated for the development of integrated disease surveillance and response system (IDSRS) with public health laboratories network and workforce development for the transition of field epidemiology and laboratory training programme (FELTP).

An amount of Rs500 million has been granted for COVID-19 emergency response and ensuring universal health coverage in the Islamabad Capital Territory. An amount of Rs500 million has been allocated for strengthening the common management unit (TB, HIV/AIDS and malaria) and accelerating response to control the three diseases.

Allocations for equipment

An amount of Rs495 million has been allocated for the up gradation of the neurosurgery department and provision of essential equipment to the PIMS, while Rs396 million has been allocated for the purchase of new electro-medical equipment to replace the obsolete and old-fashioned machines concerning care and facilities for disabled patients at National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (NIRM), Islamabad.

Rural health programme

Similarly, an amount of Rs393 million has been allocated for the up gradation of the rural health facilities and strengthening of the health department for effective health care provision Rs250 million has been allocated for implementation of the national action plan for population (2021-26).

For the establishment of the Mother and Child Health (MCH) Centre at Gohra Shahan, Humak in Islamabad, Rs182.868 million have been allocated. An amount of Rs 170.318 million has been given for the strengthening of Mother and Child Health Services at Bhara Kahu, Islamabad. A sum of around Rs10 million have been earmarked for a pilot project aimed at inclusive education for children with disabilities at public and private schools in Islamabad.

Miscellaneous allocations

In addition, Rs165 million have been earmarked for Parliament House and government hostels and dispensaries, Rs.157.892 million for the District Population Welfare Office Islamabad and Rs11.96 billion for coronavirus vaccines.

Cancer hospital

In the new budget, the government has allocated a sum of Rs250 million for the proposed cancer hospital to be established in the capital to provide advanced medical treatment to cancer patients.

The hospital, to be equipped with the latest technology, will help the cancer patients get better medical facilities including oncology laboratories and operation theatres.

Furthermore, Rs900 million have been allocated for the cancer hospital of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission in AJK. For the upgradation of PAEC's cancer hospital Kiran in Karachi, Rs1.795 billion have been allocated in the PSDP.

Metro bus service

The government has allocated Rs2.15 billion in the PSDP for the construction of infrastructure and operations of the metro bus service from Peshawar Mor to the Islamabad airport.

An amount of Rs300 million have been allocated for the construction of infrastructure and allied work on the 25.6-kilometre route of Peshawar More to the Islamabad International Airport.

For the construction of the Rawat-Faizabad route of the metro bus, Rs1 billion have been earmarked while Rs500 have been proposed for the Bhara Kahu-Faizabad route.

A sum of Rs350 million have been allocated for the operation management and maintenance of the metro bus service.

Establishment of recycling plant

The government has allocated Rs167.725 million for the establishment of a recycling plant in Islamabad for safe disposal of scripture of the Holy Quran. The project has already been approved by the Departmental Development Working Party of the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

The recycling plant would be constructed on 10 kanals of land in Haji Camp on the outskirts of Islamabad.

(With additional input APP)

 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11^th, 2022.