Minister stresses on health plan deadline

KOCHI: The Comprehensive Health Plan for the financial year 2012-13 must be prepared within the specified time frame, Union Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies K V Thomas said.He was speaking at the inauguration of the plan. The responsibility of laying down the proposals lies with the lowest levels of local self governance. It is a huge responsibility, the minister said. Friday’s programme, which included a workshop on the preparation of the plan for the district, was attended by the heads of various village panchayats, block panchayat s , dis t r ict panchayats, and health standing committee chairpersons at various levels.“Since, this time around, funds have been raised by over three times, there is a lot of stress on the Comprehensive Health Plan. The allocation is raised from 0.9 per cent to 3 per cent.It is a huge responsibility on the various elected representatives and the health authorities concerned,” said Dr Sajith Kumar, T D Medical College professor, who conducted the workshop. As part of the plan, the district is expected to receive `300 crore , district panchayat president Eldose Kunnappilly said.Projects will be undertaken using the central funds from the National Rural Health Mission. All projects will be proposed and discussed at various levels, starting from the panchayat and moving up to the block and the district levels. The project is aimed at streamlining the public health system. As part of the which, panchayats will be allotted Rs1 crore each. Block panchayat will get Rs 5 crore, municipalities Rs 22 crore, and district panchayats will be allotted Rs 50 crore. There are also proposals to provide free medical aid to cancer patients in the district