FinMin Releases Rs. 8,453.92 Cr Health Sector Grant To 19 States
The Ministry of Finance on Saturday said that it has released a total amount of Rs.8,453.92 crore as a health sector grant for rural and urban local bodies of 19 States. The grants have been released as per the recommendations of the Fifteenth Finance Commission.
The Fifteenth Finance Commission (FC-XV) in its Report for the period from 2021-22 to 2025-26 has recommended a total grant of Rs. 4,27,911 crore to local governments. "The grants recommended by the Commission inter-alia include health grants of Rs.70,051 crore. Out of this amount, Rs.43,928 crore has been recommended for Rural Local Bodies and Rs.26,123 crore for Urban Local Bodies," the Finance Ministry said in a media release.
The ministry also said that these grants are meant to strengthen health systems and plug the critical gaps in the health care system at the primary health care level. "The Commission has also identified interventions that will directly lead to strengthening the primary health infrastructure and facilities in both rural and urban areas and has earmarked grants for each intervention," it added.
These interventions are- the support for diagnostic infrastructure to the primary healthcare facilities in rural areas with Rs.16,377 crore, block-level public health units in rural areas with Rs.5,279 crore, construction of buildings of building-less Sub centres, PHCs, CHCs in rural areas with Rs.7,167 crore.
Meanwhile, health grants to the remaining 9 States will be released after their proposals are received from the respective States through the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the ministry informed.
