With a view to augment poor healthcare infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir, the government has enhanced the budgetary allocation for vital health and medical education sector by Rs 500 crore in the budget 2020-21 which was presented by the Union Finance Minister in the Parliament.
The budgetary allocation for health sector has beenincreased by Rs 500 crore in comparison to allocation of Rs 768 crore forhealth and medical education during last budget of 2019-2020. The totalallocation in budget for H&ME is Rs 1268 crore for this fiscal year.
According to health department officials, Jammu and Kashmiris facing dearth in healthcare infrastructure, for a population of over 1.25crore people in Union territory, there are around 180 ventilators.
A senior health department official said “allocation forhealth sector has been enhanced with a view to provide better facilities,control communicable as well non communicable diseases, improve maternal andchild care services, strengthening secondary and tertiary health care and toprovide health care at door steps.”
“To further improve health care facilities, two AIIMS arebeing set up besides seven new Medical Colleges at Baramulla, Anantnag, Doda,Rajouri, Kathua, Handwara and Udhampur. An amount of ` 8 crore is being set asidefor setting up of 20 digital dispensaries in each district of the UnionTerritory. Government shall set-up 86 Jan Aushadi Kendras and 16 AMRIT storesfor affordable medicines for poor patients,” he informed.
The over Rs 1-lakh crore Budget for Jammu and Kashmir for2020-21 laid emphasis on the development of newly carved-out Union Territory ofJammu and Kashmir, which was made a Union Territory with effect from October31, 2019.
The total budget estimates for the fiscal is Rs 1, 01,428crore, of which developmental expenditure is of the order of Rs 38,764 crore,an increase of 27 per cent.
It is pertinent to mention that last week, Jammu and Kashmiradministration accorded sanction torolling out the J&K Health Scheme to provide free of cost Universal HealthCoverage to all residents of the Union Territory in convergence with AyushmanBharat-PMJAY.
The decision was taken by the administrative council whichmet under the chairmanship of Lt Governor.
Around 1.25 crore residents of the Union Territory would getall benefits provided under the centre’s Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri JanArogya Yojana (PMJAY).
At present, 31 lakh people are eligible for benefits underAyushman Bharat-PMJAY, the official said, adding around 15 lakh additionalfamilies will be covered under the J&K Health Scheme.