The Central government has approved projects worth Rs 1,100 crore under National Health Mission (NHM) for improving healthcare infrastructure in Uttarakhand. The State Health department had presented Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) for a period of two years (financial years 2024-25 and 2025-26) in the meeting of the National Programme Coordination Committee (NPCC) of NHM held in New Delhi recently. Under the plan a centre of excellence blood bank will be set up in government medical college Srinagar and 50 bed sub district hospitals will be constructed in Thalisain (Pauri) and Guptkashi ( Rudraprayag). Approval for a 200 bed hospital building for sub district hospital in Kashipur was also given in the meeting. The plan for constructing type IV and III houses in GB Pant hospital Nainital, type IV houses, cardiac care unit, transit hostel, medicine store, new OPD building and parking in BD Pandey hospital Nainital were also approved. Similarly medical officers transit hostels will be constructed in Primary Health Centre (PHC) of Phata and Guptkashi in Rudraprayag district while new construction works will be undertaken in TB sanatorium Bhowali, Nainital and sub district hospital Haldwani.
The NPCC of the NHM has also approved a sum of Rs 412.32 lakh for new activities under maternal health programme, Rs 78.60 lakh for purchasing 262 palanquins for safe transport of pregnant women from roadside to their houses, Rs 89.90 lakh for strengthening FRUs and Rs 41.44 lakh for providing advocacy tools to the Asha and ANMs. Similarly a sum of Es 34 lakh was approved for operation of 13 one stop centres and 27 CHC birth waiting homes was given in the meeting.
The health minister Dhan Singh Rawat said that PIPs of about Rs 1,100 crore were prepared for a period of two years under the NHM. The PIPs were approved with some amendments by the NPCC of the government of India. The minister said that the approval of the projects will help in improving the health services of the State.