The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has warned Punjab that if the state continues to rebrand centrally funded Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centers (AB-HWCs) as “Aam Aadmi Clinics,” it will cut funds worth close to 676.11 crore for enhancing health facilities.
In the State, power is held by the Aam Aadmi Party.
Official MoHFW sources claimed that they regularly checked geo-tagged images of AB-HWCs to ensure that the buildings’ facades, for which the central government provides 60% of the money, are more or less uniform between States.
“It was observed that the facades of AB-HWCs had been turned on their head, and were rebranded as Aam Aadmi Clinics with prominent pictures of Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann plastered all over the clinics,” a senior official from MoHFW said.
The Ministry has noted that Punjab’s deviation from the typical AB-HWC design was against the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding for the National Health Mission, which was signed between the Center and States from April 2021 to March 2026. According to officials, an AB-HWCs building must be painted yellow and brown with a red NHM insignia on the front.
The MoHFW indicates that the State may have artwork painted on the building’s front in accordance with regional art forms in its reference manual for developing AB-HWCs. “None of that has been done in Punjab’s case. While Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Kerala are also not compliant with facade designs, they have not politicised the design,” the official added.
Punjab received approval for $1,114.57 crore in FY 2022–23
Punjab received approval for $1,114.57 crore in FY 2022–23 under the National Health Mission in a 60:40 ratio, with 60% going to the Center and 40% going to the State. According to Roli Singh, Additional Secretary (NHM), MoHFW, in the letter to the Punjab government, a total of 438.46 crore had already been released as the Center’s share. The release of up to 676.11 crore has not yet released.
“Further, the State has been provided with an approval of ₹401.12 crore under 15th Finance Commission and ₹145.62 crore under PM-ABHIM [PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission] for FY2022-23. 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 and defaulted on its commitment,” the letter stated.
The MoHFW has asked the Punjab government to restore the facade branding of all AB-HWCs in rural and urban areas, where healthcare services are being provided with the support of the NHM by February 28. It said it would stop health funding under NHM if the agreement was not adhered to. “It seems the State has violated the provisions of clause 10.3 and 10.10 of the MoU and have stopped implementing the AB-HWC component of the NHM; therefore releases to the State under NHM do not appear feasible as per provisions of clause 13 of the MOU,” Ms. Singh said.
The MoHFW allocates 5.6 lakh fund annually for one PHC-infrastructure
The MoHFW allocates 5.6 lakh fund annually for one PHC-infrastructure HWC’s upkeep and an extra 4 lakh rupees for personnel wages. Similar to that, it allots 9.75 lakhs for each SHC-maintenance HWC’s and upkeep as well as an additional 7.3 lakh for staff wages.
In Punjab, there are 379 main health centres and 2,488 sub health centres (SHC). Also, according to MoHFW authorities, 162 urban primary health centres (PHC) in the State qualify for upgrade and ongoing support through the NHM’s AB-HWC programme.
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