Punjab's Health Fund Utilisation Stands at Just 20.74%: CAG

Synopsis

The CAG reveals that Punjab has failed to utilise a significant portion of its health funds, with only 3.11% spent in 2021-22. Delays in plan submissions and management issues have contributed to this underutilisation, highlighting a need for reform in health service delivery.

Key Takeaways

Punjab government underutilised health funds significantly.
Only 3.11% of total expenditure was spent on health services in 2021-22.
Delays in plan submissions to the Union government affected fund approval.
Large sums of government money remain idle outside accounts.
Mobile health teams face staffing shortages and medication unavailability.

Chandigarh, March 25 (NationPress) The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India reported on Tuesday that a significant portion of the health funds allocated by the Punjab government remains unutilised, with figures ranging from 6.5 to 20.74 percent.

In the performance audit report of public health infrastructure and management of health services for 2024, presented in the Assembly, it was noted that the government managed to expend only 3.11 percent of its total expenditure and 0.68 percent of GSDP on health services during 2021-22. These figures fall significantly short of the targeted eight percent of the budget and 2.50 percent of the GSDP.

The State Programme Implementation Plans for each year faced submission delays to the Union government, ranging from 10 to 108 days. This caused a lag in approvals and led to a tardy receipt of funds.

A substantial amount of government funds was reported to be sitting idle outside government accounts, including Rs 4.92 crore with the Punjab Nirogi Society under the Punjab Nirogi Yojana and Rs 76.81 crore under the Mukh Mantri Punjab Cancer Raahat Kosh Scheme as of March 2022. Additionally, user charges of Rs 1.94 crore collected by Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, and Rs 85.70 crore in concession fees transferred to the Punjab Health Systems Corporation were also idle, contrary to established regulations.

The execution of centrally sponsored schemes, such as the National Urban Health Mission, Family Welfare, Kayakalp, and Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), in Punjab did not meet the intended targets.

There were notable shortfalls in the utilisation of funds allocated to various schemes, as highlighted by the audit report.

Instances of non-payment of financial assistance and incentives under the Family Welfare scheme and Janani Suraksha Yojana were also reported.

Health institutions aiming for Kayakalp status were significantly lacking, and National Quality Assurance Standards-certified health institutions exhibited no consistent growth.

Mobile health teams operating under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram faced staffing shortages, adversely impacting child screening efforts, according to the national auditor.

Despite prescriptions from the Union government, mobile health teams were found lacking essential medications, with only iron, folic acid, and Albendazole available.

The CAG emphasized that the intended regulatory framework was not functioning effectively, hindering the responsible delivery of health services to the population.