Question : Funds for Health Schemes

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the funds allocated for various ongoing health programmes are not being utilized properly and timely, if so, the funds allocated and actually spent on these health programmes during the last three years, State-wise;

(b) whether the complaints of any irregularities have been received in spending the funds released by the Government to the States, if so, the details thereof along with the measures taken by the Government in this regard;

(c) whether allocation under the budgetary provisions has been slashed down continuously, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the percentage of total health expenditure of GDP;

(d) the steps taken by the Government to minimize the gap between the utilization and budgetary allocations in consultation with States; and

(e) whether the Government proposes to engage some NGOs for better implementation of health programmes in States, if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a): The funds for various Health Programmes are being properly utilized as per allocation.
(b): Public health and hospitals is the State subject and its implementation also lies with the State Governments. Therefore, on receipt of complaints on any irregularities in respect of spending of funds released by the Government to the States was immediately brought to the notice of the State Government for remedial action.

Contd……..
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However, to avoid such irregularities the following measures have been taken by the Ministry:
• Performance Audit by the Controller & Auditor General (CAG) of India,
• Annual Statutory Audits by CAG empanelled major CA audit firms;
• Concurrent Audits by CA audit firms,
• Financial reporting through Quarterly Financial Management Reports (FMR),
• Implemented Public Financial Management System (PFMS) developed by the office of CGA of Ministry of Finance for monitoring and management of funds on just in time / real time basis.
• Supervisory visits by the Ministry officials

(c): Budgetary provisions have not been slashed down.

(d) : There is no significant gap between the utilization and budgetary allocations.

(e): No. Direct grant-in-aid by the Ministry to NGOs have been discontinued from the financial year 2014-15.

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