PM FOR BETTER HEALTHCARE RESOURCES USE

The inability of states to use its resources, particularly healthcare equipment, seemes to have annoyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At a recent high-level meeting with health ministry officials, the PM made it categorically clear that before “asking for additional funds in the Budget for healthcare, both the Union ministry and the states should ensure optimal utilisation of the available resources,” sources said. This is being viewed as the Mr Modi’s move to push for better utilisation of healthcare equipment lying unused in government-run hospitals.

Following the meeting with the PM, the health ministry has now written to the states seeking details on unused medical devices which can be put to use. “Every year, a lot of money is spent in buying equipments which require some servicing remain non-functional. The Prime Minister wants there should be no wastage of resources and how we can make the available resources more effective,” an official said. The health ministry’s own survey has found that 25-30 per cent of the equipment in government-run hospitals is non-functional.