Jharkhand Health Department Issues Stern Warning to Districts Over Poor Fund Utilization
In a significant development, the Jharkhand health department has taken a firm stance against districts demonstrating inadequate progress in utilizing funds allocated under the 15th Finance Commission. Additional Chief Secretary of the Health Department, Ajay Kumar Singh, made this clear during a crucial review meeting held on Monday in Ranchi.
Strict Action Threatened for Underperforming Districts
Addressing civil surgeons from across the state, ACS Singh expressed strong dissatisfaction with the low utilization of funds under the 15th Finance Commission. He emphasized that districts showing minimal progress would face strict consequences. This could potentially include withholding salaries of civil surgeons and implementing other punitive measures to ensure compliance and improved performance.
Singh specifically directed the civil surgeons to enhance their expenditure performance immediately. He warned that failure to do so would not be tolerated, and the department is prepared to take decisive action to rectify the situation.
Key Directives and Expectations
During the meeting, several important directives were issued to streamline operations and ensure better fund utilization:
- Utilization Certificates Deadline: Civil surgeons have been instructed to ensure submission of utilization certificates by February 13. This is a mandatory requirement to track and verify how allocated funds are being spent.
- Minimum Expenditure Target: Districts must utilize at least 60% of the funds allocated to them under the 15th Finance Commission. This benchmark has been set to ensure substantial progress and effective implementation of health initiatives.
- Essential Medical Equipment: Singh stressed that essential medical equipment must be made available in all hospitals across the state. He assured that additional funds would be provided wherever necessary to meet this critical requirement.
Recognition and Admonishment
The review meeting highlighted a mixed performance among districts. While some districts were lauded for showing better performance and following best practices, others faced severe criticism.
Districts identified as poor performers include:
- Hazaribagh
- Ramgarh
- Dumka
- Ranchi
- Pakur
Explanations have been sought from districts reporting zero expenditure, indicating the department's serious concern over complete inaction. Singh advised underperforming districts to learn from and emulate the best practices demonstrated by their better-performing counterparts.
Broader Systemic Improvements
Beyond addressing immediate fund utilization issues, the meeting also discussed several systemic improvements aimed at enhancing efficiency and accountability in the health sector:
- Attendance-Salary Linkage: Efforts are underway to link staff attendance systems directly with salary payments. This move is expected to improve accountability and ensure that salaries are paid only for actual work performed.
- ASHA Workers' Incentives: The department plans to bring ASHA workers' incentives under an online payment mechanism. This digital transition aims to streamline payments, reduce delays, and ensure transparency in disbursing incentives to these crucial frontline health workers.
- 108 Ambulance Service Integration: Integrating the 108 ambulance service under a unified operational framework is another priority. This integration is expected to ensure smoother emergency response coordination and better utilization of ambulance services across the state.
Additional Concerns Raised
The meeting also noted concerning trends beyond district health administrations. Slow spending by deputy development commissioners and municipal councils was highlighted, despite adequate fund allocation. This indicates broader systemic issues in fund utilization that need to be addressed across various administrative levels.
The Jharkhand health department's firm stance underscores the state government's commitment to ensuring that funds allocated under the 15th Finance Commission are effectively utilized to improve healthcare infrastructure and services. With clear deadlines, performance benchmarks, and consequences for non-compliance, the department aims to drive significant improvements in health sector expenditure and service delivery across all districts.
