Centre to spend Rs.300 cr on male health workers in 235 high focus districts under NRHM

The Centre will spend over Rs.300 crore on the male healthworkers selected for sub  health centres in 235 high focus districts from thepoint of disease control under  theNational Rural Health Mission (NRHM) during this financial year.The government  approved hiring of more than 53500 male healthworkers for all the Sub  HealthCentres (SHC) in 235 high focus districts from  the point of view of disease control. The total costs for providing  the male health workers on contract would be Rs.385.52 crore per year  and the central government will bear 85per cent, 75 per cent and 65  per cent share in first threeyears, according to the official sources.The infrastructure in the healthcare sector has improved with new constructionof district hospitals  and community centres under NRHM.New construction and upgradation/renovation  were takenup in 433 district hospitals, 2921 Community Health Centres (CHCs) , 4165 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and 11856 Health Sub-Centres under the programme during the year of 2010. Besides, 9120 Primary HealthCentres (PHC) have been made functional for 24x7 ascompared to only 1262 in 2005,  according to the annual report of the Ministry.As many as 2394 specialists,  8284 MBBS doctors, 9578 AYUSH doctors, 26734 staff nurses,  53552 ANMs and 18272 other Para-medical staff have been added to  the health system to improvethe services after the introduction of NRHM in 2005. Over 8.33 lakh trained ASHA/community workers havebeen engaged to link the  households with the healthfacility. 5.7 lakh ASHA workers have been trained and  provided with drug kits so far, as per the report.A total number of 29904  Rogi Kalyan Samitis have been registered in the health facilities upto PHC level. (A support of Rs.5 lakh per DH, Rs.1 lakh per CHC andRs.1 lakh per PHC  are given.) As many as 4.98 lakh Village Health and Sanitation Committees (VHSCs) have been constituted and 4.82 lakh joint accounts at the Village Health and Sanitation  Committees andHealth Sub-Centres opened.Under the Janani Suraksh  Yojana (JSY) which is cash transfer scheme topromote institutional delivery, over 100.78 lakh  pregnant mothers were covered in 2009-10 as against only 7.39 lakh in 2005-06. Source:Pharmabiz