Thiruvananthapuram: The claim that Centre allocated the full amount due to Kerala for centrally sponsored health schemes in the last financial year is false, said health minister Veena George on Wednesday.
“Central govt didn’t provide Rs 636.88 crore for 2023-24, claiming that state hasn’t done the co-branding of health institutions as insisted by Centre,” said George.
“The health minister and state national health mission (NHM) director wrote several times to Union health minister and Union health secretary, highlighting that Rs 636.88 crore was due towards state for NHM in 2023-24. Centre’s latest response on Oct 28 also made it clear that central share to Kerala in 2023-24 is yet to be provided,” she said.
“Not a single rupee was allocated for NHM schemes being implemented in state, including ASHA activities, in 2023-24 financial year. Of the total Rs 826.02 crore due from Centre, only Rs 189.15 crore was granted for infrastructure maintenance and other grants. However, the remaining Rs 636.88 crore, including ASHA workers’ incentives, was not allocated,” she added.
“Due to the absence of central funding, Kerala advanced NHM projects using state’s share. Despite complying with all procedures suggested by Centre, including co-branding, funds for that year were not allocated. Therefore, state health minister brought this issue to Union health minister’s attention,” said George.
Lack of central funds meant that state had to use its funds to carry out central schemes, including ASHA workers’ incentives, free tests, free treatments, salaries for health workers appointed through NHM, biomedical management, medicines, for the operation of Kaniv 108 ambulance, mother and child scheme, etc, to avoid any major crisis in the health sector,” she added.
