There has been a reduced allocation for a number of ongoing projects as compared to last year.
The government has allocated Rs1.4 billion in the Public Sector Development Programme for various new and ongoing health projects for the fiscal year 2014-15.
Major chunk of the total allocation, Rs1.2 billion has been earmarked for projects being implemented under Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD).
There has been a reduced allocation for a number of ongoing projects as compared to last year.
A number of new projects, including establishment of Islamabad General Hospital, Cancer Hospital and extension of Polyclinic hospital, have been included in the PSDP. The three projects after completion will ease the ever increasing burden on the existing facilities at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and Polyclinic and CDA hospital.
CADD Projects
An allocation of Rs1.236 billion has been earmarked for the CADD for the fiscal year 2014-15.
According to the document, of the total allocation, a substantial amount of Rs743 million has been earmarked for eight on-going projects and Rs493 million for five new schemes.
However, no allocations have been made in the PSDP for some important projects like Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), Prime Minister’s Special Initiative for Management of Dengue Fever and Pollen Allergy, in Islamabad, construction of female doctors’ hostels at Pims and Polyclinic.
A senior official at CADD who wished not to be named, said the division had floated a tender for computerisation of National Braille Press at the National Special Education Centre for Visually Handicapped Children but the scheme has been excluded from the PSDP.
The official also expressed concern over the exclusion of PM’s Special Initiative for Management of Dengue Fever and Pollen Allergy Project from the PSDP for 2014-15.
“The exclusion of this mega project is shocking as we have left with no money to fight against dengue fever,” said the official. The project is coming to an end this June, however efforts are being made for its extension but the Planning Commission has asked to include it in non-development projects, said the official.
The allocation of funds for land acquisition and extension of Polyclinic hospital is a positive step, said the official.
“After purchasing 2.54 acres of land of Argentina Park, adjacent to the hospital, a new block will be constructed after which the old hospital building will be demolished and will be reconstructed.”
The allocation for Bone Marrow Transplant Centre at PIMS has been increased from Rs10 million last year to Rs33 million.
For the establishment of Breast Cancer Screening Centre at PIMS, Rs157 million has been allocated as compared to Rs65 million last year.
For the establishment of Cardiac Surgery Facility at PIMS, Rs299 million has been allocated against last year’s Rs215.
An amount of Rs100 million has been allocated for the establishment of Safe Blood Transfusion Services in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). For the Population Welfare Services in Islamabad district Rs60 million has been earmarked this year as compared to Rs100 million last year. For the Regional Training Institute, Population an amount of Rs10 million has been made against Rs36 million last year.
A total allocation of Rs493 million for four new schemes – Rs200 million for the establishment of Cancer Hospital, Rs10 million for the establishment of a unit for shredding sterilisation and disposal of medical waste at PIMS, Rs255 million for extension FGPC (land acquisition and construction) and Rs28 million for replacement of telephone exchange at Pims.
Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University-PIMS, Vice-Chancellor Professor Javed Akram expressed satisfaction over the amount allocated for the on-going projects.
“The Bone Marrow Transplant Project is also being funded by Government of Italy and hopefully it will be completed within two to three months,” he told The Express Tribune.
Similarly Breast Cancer and Cardiac Surgery Project will also be completed by the end of this year he said.
Interior Division
A total of Rs149 million has been allocated to the five ongoing projects under the Interior Division that includes renovation of 14 basic health units (BHUs) and 2 rural health centres (RHCs).
This time an amount of Rs1 million has been allocated for establishment of the much-awaited Islamabad General hospital at Tarlai under new schemes.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 4th, 2014.
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