Seeking full compliance with the provisions of the National Health Mission as per the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the Health Ministry has once again written to Punjab asking it to comply by February 28.
The ministry has been saying that the state has revamped multiple health and wellness centres into their own projects named ‘Aam Aadmi Clinics’ and cited at least five diversions from the guidelines agreed upon at the time of inception in 2018.
The ministry has also given strong indications that funding of the NHM for Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Clinics may not be “feasible” in case of non-compliance.
In a letter dated February 06 to the Principal Secretary, of Health and Family Welfare, in the state government of Punjab, Veerendra Kumar Meena, the Director of the National Health Mission, Roli Singh has said that the state government has violated two clauses of the MoU.
“By not adhering to the provisions of the MoU and not following the guidelines issued for AB-HWCs and developing the branding of these facilities as Aam Aadmi Clinics, the State has vitiated the spirit of the scheme of Ayushman Bharat- Health and Wellness centres and defaulted on its commitment,” Singh writes in her letter.
“You are hereby advised to ensure the facade branding of a-ll AB-HWCs in rural and urban areas, where healthcare services are being provided with support from NHM, is completed as per the extant guidelines by 28th February 2023 and updated in the AB-HWC portal.”
“It seems that state has violated the provisions of Clause 1o.3 and 1o.10 of MoU and have stopped implementing the AB-HWC component of NHM, therefore releases to the State under NHM do not appear feasible as per provisions of clause 13 of the MoU,” she added.
The ministry had also written to the state in November last year seeking compliance and top sources in the ministry suggested that it came after Punjab revamped nearly 240 odd HWCs out of 3029 such centres in the state and named them ‘Aam Aadmi Clinics’.
Notably, the ministry is obligated to share 60 per cent of the budget for the NHM and out of the approved sum of Rs. 1114.57 crores for the state in this financial year, it has released Rs 438.46 crore so far.
Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya had informed the Lok Sabha earlier during the budget session that some states are utilising the funds allocated for the National Health Mission to run schemes with different names which run completely in violation of the terms of the MoU.
