PSDP 2013-14: Two Pims projects get largest share of healthcare spoils

Hospital administration official urges timely release of funds, accountability.

ISLAMABAD: The government has allocated Rs1.75 billion for three federal health divisions in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for fiscal year 2013-14.

According to the budgetary document issued on Wednesday, Rs1.358 billion of the total amount has been earmarked for 18 ongoing PSDP schemes and Rs385.82 million for four new schemes.

After devolution, the federal health sector was split into eight divisions. However, owing to confusion, a new National Health Services Regulation and Coordination Ministry was formed a few months ago, under which all national programmes currently fall.

Meanwhile, Islamabad-related health projects have been placed under the control of the Cabinet Division, Capital Administration and Development Division and Interior Division respectively.

Of the 18 ongoing schemes, two Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) projects have been allocated the highest amounts, with Rs621 million set aside for upgradation of critical care facilities and Rs215.91 million for establishment of cardiac surgery facilities.

For the four new schemes, the highest allocation, of Rs298.82 million, has been made for replacement and purchase of equipment at the Polyclinic Hospital. The Polyclinic administration has been wanting to expand the hospital premises and build a new block to accommodate the ever-increasing number of patients. However, with the current allocation, it seems that the project might not materialise this year either. Moreover, Rs10 million have been earmarked for the bone marrow transplant centre at Pims and Rs65 million for establishment of a federal breast cancer screening centre, also at Pims.

A Pims administration official requesting anonymity said that budget allocations which had not been released on time in previous years had hindered progress of the hospital’s projects.

Even if they were released on time, there was no accountability of the funds’ utilisation, he added.

Total budget: 1.75 billion

• New Schemes

10m
Bone Marrow Transplant Centre at Pims, Islamabad

65m

Establishment of Federal Breast Cancer Screening Centre at Pims, Islamabad

298.82m

Replacement and Purchase of Equipment at Polyclinic Hospital, Islamabad

12m

Prevention & Control of Communicable Diseases in ICT

• Interior Division Ongoing Schemes

30.16m

Renovation of two rural health centres (RHCs) in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT)

23.03m
Renovation of 14 basic health units (BHUs) in ICT

• Cabinet Division Ongoing Schemes

Establishment

20m

Women’s Hospital & Chest Disease Centre, Rawalpindi

180m

GMP-compliant sera processing laboratory, NIH, Islamabad

3.88m

Allergy Centre, NIH, Islamabad

6.84m

National Resource Centre, NIH, Islamabad

9.78m

Laboratory for Strengthening of Food Quality Control, NIH

Improvement

16.47m

Upgradation of building for the manufacturing of measles vaccine, NIH

48.03m

Upgradation of HDC building, NIH Rehabilitation

1.19m

National Institute of Health

3.50m

Residential colony and water supply/treatment system, NIH

• Capital Administration and Development Division Ongoing Schemes

Establishment

215.91m

Cardiac Surgery Facilities, Islamabad

31m

PM’s Special Initiative for controlling dengue, pollen allergy, Islamabad

100.79m

Safe Blood Transfusion Services Project

621m

Critical Care Facilities at Pims, Islamabad

Construction

30.51m

Female Doctors Hostel, Polyclinic, Islamabad

12.34m

Female Doctors Hostel at Pims, Islamabad

4.99m

Renovation of Nursing Hostel at Pims, Islamabad

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2013.