Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Friday chaired a virtual meeting with all states and Union Territories to review the physical and financial progress under the National Health Mission (NHM), Emergency COVID Response Package (ECRP)-II, Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), 15th Finance Commission grants and the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme (PM-NDP).
The Centre asked the states and UTs to complete all activities under the ECRP-II scheme by December 31 this year. The states were also advised that instead of seeking the approval of the Union Health Ministry, State Health Societies (SHS) have been authorised to accord the remaining approvals of activities under ECRP-II.
Highlighting the need to expedite the utilisation of funds released under the ECRP-II package, the states were informed that 100 per cent Central share amount has been released to the states.
The Union Health Secretary highlighted that for ensuring implementation of programmes and initiatives, allocated government resources under the National Health Mission must be expedited and utilised efficiently. He urged the states to provide necessary documentation and utilisation certificates corresponding to fund utilisation and ensure refund of the unused amount.
The states were also urged to map these transfers on the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) portal.
The ministry said that to develop capacities of health systems and institutions across the continuum of care at all levels -- primary, secondary, tertiary -- and to prepare health systems in responding effectively to the current and future pandemics, disasters, Rs. 64,180 crore for the period from 2021-22 to 2025-26 has been allocated under PM-ABHIM.
Given the emphasis on utilisation of these funds for capital expenditure, the states and UTs were requested to expedite proposals and MoUs to be sent to the Union Health Ministry under PM-ABHIM to enable the ministry to release funds on time for the states. To ensure mapping of the physical and financial progress, the states were requested to identify physical facilities and complete the mapping exercise on the NHM-Progress Monitoring System (PMS) portal at the earliest.
To expand the coverage of the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme (PMNDP) across the country, the states were asked in the meeting to cover all districts by the Haemodialysis programme and promote the peritoneal dialysis programme alongside, as it is less restrictive for the patients and requires less technical demand from institutions.