Rs. 9,500 cr unspent under healthcare

The Comptroller and Auditor General have found severe deficiencies in the performance of the reproductive and child health scheme under the National Rural Health Mission. A CAG report, tabled in Parliament recently, mentioned that the financial management under the Mission was not satisfactory, with more than Rs 9,500 crores lying unspent with State Health Societies in 2015-16. Severe deficiencies in the performance of the reproductive and child health scheme under the National Rural Health Mission.  There are shortfalls in the availability of physical infrastructure, non-availability of essential drugs, equipment lying unutilised, and shortages of doctors and paramedical staff in schemes of NHRM. “The institutional framework was either not in place or was not effective in assuring quality of services across all levels viz. national, state, district and facility,” the report observed.