Karnataka to implement WB aided Health System Project

Bangalore, Sep 22 (UNI) A comprehensive World Bank aided Health System Development and Reform Project, involving Rs 897.79 crore, will be implemented in the state from October, Health and Family Welfare Minister R Ashok announced today.

Speaking to newspersons here he said the state's share in the project was around Rs 281.11 crore which was to be invested in next five years. The project would be implemented with a special focus on the relatively less developed areas of vulnerable populations, in particular the rural poor belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Women and Children.

Replying to queries he said the project included strengthening of basic health interventions such as immunisation, safe delivery, pre and post natal care, prevention and treatment of diarrhoea, acute respiratory infections and major communicable diseases.

Of the total amount, Rs 127 crore would be earmarked for creating infrastructural facilities. This included providing new buildings for 100 primary health centres with priority being given to most backward and backward taluks. About 2000 PHCs, Sub centres and Community Health Centres would either be repaired or renovated, he added.

He said Rs 30 crore would be spent on providing healthcare staff, mobile vans and free drugs. Two auxilliary nurse midwife training centres would also be established at a cost of Rs 2 crores.

The government would also spend Rs 43 lakhs on training 300 tribal girls as ANMs who would be paid stipend. For the first time, the government would spend Rs 40 crore on public health activities, he added.

He said a new health insurance scheme would be introduced to cover 20 lakh poor families. This was in addition to 40 lakh families already covered under the state scheme 'Arogya Suraksha' for those living below the poverty line, he clarified.

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