NRHM gets ₹2,000 crore more stimulus; PHCs to give way to wellness centers in Lucknow

The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) has received around ₹2,000 crore more allocation this time as the state government has proposed ₹12,631 crore for it in the budget tabled in the Assembly on Wednesday.

"Rural sub-health centers and primary health centers (PHCs) will be converted into health and wellness centers with an outlay of ₹407 crore," Finance Minister Suresh Khanna said in his budget speech. Also, intensive care units in both rural and urban areas along with integrated diagnostic laboratories, emergency operation centers and hospitals with mobile units are scheduled to come up to the proposed ₹1,547 crore.

“Converting rural sub-health centers into health and wellness centers will pave the way for more facilities, especially for women and children, in rural areas,” said Dr. Amita Shukla, senior gynecologist at SC Trivedi Memorial Trust Hospital in Lucknow. 

The state budget also proposed ₹100, crore for treatment of terminal diseases and ₹1,655 crore for the Pradhan Mantri Aatmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana. The budget allocates ₹1,547 crore for Prime Minister's Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission projects, ₹400 crore for Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana and ₹320 crore for Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana.

A provision of ₹250 crore was also made in the budget for the Ayushman Bharat Mukhya Mantri Jan Arogya Abhiyan. Another proposal of ₹ 15 crore has also been made to strengthen Community Health Centers (CHCs) and Primary Health Centers (PHCs).

A glance

₹ 12631 crore Total allocation for National Rural Health Mission

₹ 4.20 crore Family Planning Compensation Scheme

₹ 407 crore Conversion of PHCs into health and wellness centers

₹ 100 crore New equipment for community health centers