Bengaluru: The government has this year allocated Rs 5,118 crore for Health and Family Welfare Department, which was more than the previous Budget allocation. The budget has witnessed a push to both Ayush department and Public health centres.
An Ayush Drugs Manufacturing Centre would be established in the premises of Belagavi City Immunization Centre at a cost of Rs 5 Crore. In addition, Rs 6 crore will be spent to add 50 beds to Ayush hospitals at Chitradurga and Chikkamagaluru.
Ayush Treatment Centres will be established in all taluk hospitals to provide integrated, comprehensive health service. “Earlier there was just one manufacturing centre at Jayanagar. With another manufacturing unit planned, drugs can be manufactured at a larger scale,” says Dr Anant Desai, Program Officer, State Ayush Department.
“Priority has been given to PHCs by strengthening them through various initiatives like extension dispensaries having one doctor, one nurse, and one pharmacist will be established at a cost of Rs 10 lakh in villages where the distance from the PHC is more than 10 km. In order to provide health services to the people of 1200-1300 villages, having 40 per cent or more population of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe, 64 Mobile Health Units will be commenced during the next two years at a cost of Rs 25.34 crore using SCSP/TSP grants,” said Dr Upendra Bhojani, Assistant Director, Institute of Public Health (IPH) who adds that human resource and workforce needs to also be looked into.
The budget also increased the salaries for health workers. Asha workers will get a honorarium of Rs 1,000, in addition to the existing payment of incentive.
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