Delhi government has announced an allocation of Rs 7,485 crore for the health sector in its budget on Tuesday. For construction of new hospitals and re-modelling of existing ones, Rs 588 crore has being proposed. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia presented Rs 60,000 crore budget for 2019-20 in Delhi assembly giving more emphasis on the education, health and transport sectors. An amount of Rs 3,737 crore is reserved for implementation of various schemes, programs and projects under the health sector.

The Drugs Control Department has adopted a "zero-tolerance" approach towards pharmaceutical drug abuse and taken strict action against defaulters. The department has also cancelled or suspended 386 drug licenses of manufacturing units and sales premises till December 2018, who were found violating norms.

The budget mentioned that almost 189 Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinics have been set up and 333 more such clinics will be set up by the end of June 2019. Around 40 lakh persons have availed health services at Mohalla Clinics up to December 2018. 25 polyclinics are in operation and 94 more dispensaries are being remodeled to start polyclinics to provide specialized health care to citizens.

Projects for remodeling of existing hospitals - RTRM Hospital, Acharya Shree Bhikshu Hospital, Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital, Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital, Sanjay Gandhi Hospital, Dr Baba Sahib Ambedkar Hospital and Guru Govind Singh Hospital, and other facilities, at a cost of Rs 963 crore have already been sanctioned.

The city government has confirmed availability of free medicines to patients visiting dispensaries and government hospitals. Approximately, 20 lakh patients get benefitted every month from this scheme.

Delhi government has also launched the scheme for medical treatment of road accident victims and fire burn victims. Total expenses incurred on these treatments are being borne by the Delhi government. More than 3,000 such victims have been treated under this scheme.

Mr. Sisodia mentioned that good Samaritans who help road traffic accident victims to reach hospitals for medical care will be given a financial incentive of Rs 2,000 along with a certificate of appreciation. He said an outlay of Rs 2 crore is been proposed for this scheme in 2019-20.

The budget also has the scheme of conducting high-end radiology test - MRI, CT scan, ultrasound, at private centres, an outlay of Rs 49 crore is proposed in 2019-20. Radiological diagnostic services for 11 tests are being provided to people at 23 empanelled diagnostic centres on referral from city government health centres. Also, free services for 52 kind of surgeries are being provided at 48 empanelled hospitals after due referral of the patients from city-run hospitals.

Services of First Responder Vehicle (FRV) on motorcycle manned by trained manpower and equipped with mobile data terminal/GPS devices has been started in East Delhi to reach the narrow streets of congested areas within shortest possible time.

Construction on phase-II of the Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences will be completed by March 2019 adding 25 new beds at the institute. Also, two new courses - Dental Hygiene and Diploma Course for two years and Dental Operation Room Assistant certificate course for one year, are proposed to be started.

Source: https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/delhi-government-allocates-rs-7485-crore-for-health-sector/68170455