In a first, Health Ministry uses all funds allocated to PMSSY

NEW DELHI: It may be counted as a major achievement by the present government at the Centre which is led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its for the time in the history of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) has been able to spend all the funds allocated for it.

It’s worth mentioning that the funds under the head of PMSSY, which was launched in 2003 with objectives of correcting regional imbalances in the availability of affordable/reliable tertiary healthcare services, were always remained unspent, while the budget allocated for the scheme in the year 2018-19 has already been exhausted and the Health Ministry is reaching out to other funding agencies for funds to augment facilities for quality medical education in the country.

In the year 2017-18, the government had allocated Rs 3,975

‘As construction work is in full swing in all the AIIMS, we are planning to move a demand proposal of Rs 1,000 crore for PMSSY in the revised estimate’

crore to PMSSY and out of that only Rs 3,175 crore were spent, while Rs 800 crore remained unspent. In contrary to last year, the PMSSY was allocated Rs 3,825 crore, which has been utilised about five months ahead of the end of the financial year.

Confirming the development, Arun Singhal, Additional Secretary in Health Ministry, told Millennium Post that the funds allocated for the PMSSY are being utilised for setting up new AIIMS like institutions as well as the upgradation of government medical colleges.

“As construction work is in full swing in all the AIIMS, we are planning to move a demand proposal of Rs 1,000 crore for PMSSY in the revised estimate. Also, we are hopeful of getting about Rs 2,000 crore from HEFA,” Singhal said.