Due to the apathy of the Central Government, the health services of West Bengal are being affected. It has been told that the state owes approximately Rs 2,000 crore to the Central Government under the 15th Finance Commission and National Health Mission. Due to lack of funds, many health centers (Health centers, The construction has been halted. It has been told that the construction work of all new health centres, primary health centers and block primary health centers has also stopped. Recently, the State Project Director and Health Secretary of the National Health Mission have informed all the District Magistrates and Chief Health Officers. Also, the recruitment process in various urban health centers of the state has been asked to be completely stopped.
The state owes more than Rs 800 crore to the Centre.
Many personnel including doctors, nurses, health workers, medical technologists are needed to start all the urban primary health centers and block primary health units of the state with the funds of the 15th Finance Commission. The state owes more than Rs 800 crore to the Center on this sector. State health officials claim that people are being deprived of health services due to lack of central funds. According to him, in many districts the number of health centers is less in proportion to the population. To solve this problem, it is necessary to build new health centers and improve the infrastructure of existing health centers.
Construction work of health centers stopped
Apart from this, the state owes more than Rs 1100 crore to the Center under the National Health Mission. Stoppage of funds has a direct impact on services. Even everyday government work is not being done. According to the guidelines issued by Subhanjan Das, State Project Director of the National Health Mission, at present no new order can be issued for the construction of health centers. Along with this, another instruction has asked to completely stop the recruitment process in urban health and welfare centers or various urban health centers of the state.
The recruitment process in urban health centers has also come to a standstill.
In other words, due to lack of central payment, the health sector in both rural and urban areas is facing problems. Both these guidelines have been issued. In this regard, Principal Secretary of the State Health Department, Narayan Swaroop Nigam said that two months have passed, the money is still pending. We are still continuing the ongoing projects with the financial support of the state. But in case of new projects, it is becoming difficult to proceed further if the dues are not paid. Therefore, we will have to move forward slowly for a few days.