Minister of State for Health, Shabir Ahmed Khan today informed the House that 600 new Health Centers would be established in the State, adding that expenditure on the account would be fully met by the Central Government under NRHM. He said by opening of these centers, 2400 qualified educated youth of the state would get employment.
Replying to a question by Ch. Zulfikar Ali and its supplementaries today in Legislative Assembly, the Minister said the recommendation of House committee constituted for setting up of Health Centers in the state have been considered by the Government and forwarded to Planning and Finance Department to meet out financial implications in this regard. He said that new Health Centers recommended by the House Committee would be opened in a phased manner.
The Minister said that 70 ambulances and other vehicles have been purchased by the Government during last two fiscal years by the Government, adding that funds for these has been arranged under NRHM and CDF. He said these ambulances have been allotted on need basis to Health Institutions across the State. He said more ambulances are being purchased this fiscal year to meet out the shortage of ambulances in Health Institutions.The Health Minister said that ongoing health projects are mainly funded through State Plan. He, however, said that for speedy execution of these projects provision of supplementary funding is made under NRHM especially for hospital infrastructure development. He said during current financial year Rs. 71.40 crore has been projected for building infrastructure under NRHM. He gave detailed physical and financial achievement of ongoing health projects being carried out in the State.
The Health Minister said that all the Community and Primary Health Centers of Darhal constituency have ambulances facilities except PHC, Peeri and Jamola. He clarified that no nursing home is operating illegally in the State.In response of the supplementaries by Legislators Ms. Mehboba Mufti, Mrs. Bimla Luthra, Mr. Ashok Kumar, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh and Mr. G. M. Saroori, the Health Minister assured that due consideration would be given in all constituencies while opening new health centers. He also assured the members that there would be no discrimination with any constituency in this regard.