The ministry said that the government did not follow the color, nor did it display the six logos.
New Delhi:
The Center did not release its share of Rs 402.48 crore under the National Health Mission in Punjab because the government did not follow the guidelines for Ayushman Bharat-Health and Wellness Centers, the government told Parliament on Tuesday.
Punjab has named the facility as Aam Aadmi Clinic (PHC-HWC) instead of Ayushman Bharat-Health and Wellness Center (now Ayushman Arogya Mandir), thereby violating the agreement signed between the Union Health Ministry and the state, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar said in his reply in the Rajya Sabha.
The government has not followed the color scheme, nor has it displayed the six logos, he said, in response to a question on the reasons for not releasing Rs 621 crore to Punjab under the National Health Mission (NHM).
Ms Pawar said the guidelines of the Department of Expenditure (DoE) state that all states and Union territories should follow the guidelines of the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2023-24.
One of the requirements states, “Complete compliance with the names of all Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSSs) (correct translation in local language is allowed) and any guidelines/instructions issued by the Government of India regarding branding of CSSs, in all respects.” Plans for all services.”
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Punjab government on January 16, 2023, to implement the National Health Mission (NHM) from April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2026. , said Ms Pawar. .
Section 10.3 of the NHM states that the government will ensure that the implementation of the program or activities considered under the project is in accordance with the plan for the implementation of the NHM and other guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, he said.
Section 10.10 of the NHM states that “the government must comply with all existing documents, instructions, directives and circulars issued in connection with the establishment of the NHM, which do not conflict with the provisions of this MOU,” the minister added.
Detailed guidelines for branding Ayushman Bharat-Health and Wellness Centers or Ayushman Arogya Mandir were issued to all states and UTs on May 30, 2018.
Compliance with these guidelines was reviewed by all states and UTs at regular meetings.
A letter dated November 25, 2023, was also circulated by the government for converting AB-HWC into Ayushman Arogya Mandir.
“Punjab government has not followed the official DoE guidelines in this scheme… it has violated the provisions of Clauses 10.3 and 10.10 of the MoU… it has not followed the national guidelines…” Pawar said.
The Ministry of Health wrote several letters to inform the government about the issue and a review meeting was held by the Punjab Health Minister in New Delhi under the chairmanship of Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
“For the financial year 2023-24, under NHM, the central share is Rs 457.90 crores. The central share released so far is Rs 51.11 crores and the central share to be released is Rs 402.48 crores which has not been released due to non-compliance. The DoE guidelines also non-compliance with MoU clauses signed between Center and State for NHM,” Pawar said.
(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from an aggregate source.)
